coccus
1 of 2noun
coc·cus ˈkä-kəs 
plural cocci ˈkä-ˌkī
-ˌkē;
ˈkäk-ˌsī -ˌsē
: a spherical bacterium
coccal
ˈkä-kəl
adjective -coccus
2 of 2noun combining form
plural -cocci
: berry-shaped microorganism
micrococcus
Word History
Etymology
Noun
New Latin, from Greek kokkos
Noun combining form
New Latin
First Known Use
Noun
1888, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
coccus
noun
coc·cus ˈkä-kəs
plural cocci
ˈkä-ˌkī,
-ˌkē; ˈkäk-ˌsī,
-ˌsē
: a bacterium shaped like a ball
Medical Definition
coccus
noun
coc·cus ˈkäk-əs
plural cocci
ˈkäk-ˌ(s)ī also -(ˌ)(s)ē
1
: a spherical bacterium
2
: cochineal