co·ry·ne·bac·te·ri·um 
(kôr′ə-nē-băk-tîrē-əm, kə-rĭn′ə-)
(kôr′ə-nē-băk-tîrē-əm, kə-rĭn′ə-)n. pl. co·ry·ne·bac·te·ri·a (-tîrē-ə)
Any of various gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium, which includes many animal and plant pathogens, such as the causative agent of diphtheria.
[New Latin Corynēbacterium, genus name : Greek korunē, club; see ker-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + BACTERIUM.]