Staphylococci

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌstæfələˈkɔki/

Definitions

1. A type of spherical bacteria that often occur in clusters and can cause various infections, particularly in skin and respiratory ailments
2. These bacteria are found in grape-like clusters and are capable of leading to both harmless colonization and serious diseases in humans
3. A group of round-shaped bacteria that typically grow in clusters and can be responsible for a range of infections, especially those affecting the skin and respiratory system

Etymology: Staphylococci are the plural of "staphylococcus", a genus name that is itself a modern coinage built from two Greek elements. The first, "staphylo-", comes from Greek "staphylē", meaning a bunch of grapes or a cluster, a sense that describes how these round cells bunch together under a microscope. The second, "-coccus", comes from Greek "kokkos", meaning a berry or grain, and it is the standard ending for spherical bacteria. The name was assembled by bacteriologists using classical roots rather than being handed down from ancient writers, so the Greeks themselves had no word for these organisms. The genus is named after the grape-cluster image, which is why the form "staphylo-" appears so visibly in the name.