nounWord forms: plural-cocci (-ˈkɒkaɪ, US English -ˈkɒksaɪ)
any spherical Gram-positive bacterium of the genus Staphylococcus, typically occurring in clusters and including many pathogenic species, causing boils, infection in wounds, and septicaemia: family Micrococcaceae
Often shortened to: staph
Derived forms
staphylococcal (ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkəl) or staphylococcic (ˌstæfɪləʊˈkɒkɪk, US English -ˈkɒksɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from staphylo- (in the sense: like a bunch of grapes) + coccus so called because of their shape
any of a genus (Staphylococcus) of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria that generally occur in irregular clusters or short chains: the pathogenic species (esp. S. aureus) are the cause of pus formation in boils, abscesses, etc.