coccus

—coccal, coccic /kok"sik/, adj. —coccous, adj.

/kok"euhs/, n., pl. cocci /-suy, -see/.

1. Bacteriol. a spherical bacterium. See diag. under bacteria.

2. Bot. one of the carpels of a schizocarp.

[1755-65; < NL < Gk kókkos grain, seed, berry]

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Spherical bacterium.

Many species have characteristic arrangements that are useful in identification. Pairs of cocci are called diplococci; rows or chains, streptococci (see streptococcus); grapelike clusters, staphylococci (see staphylococcus); packets of eight or more cells, sarcinae; and groups of four cells in a square arrangement, tetrads. These characteristic groupings occur as a result of variations in the reproduction process.

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▪ bacterial shape

plural  Cocci,  

      in microbiology, a spherical-shaped bacterium. Many species of bacteria have characteristic arrangements that are useful in identification. Pairs of cocci are called diplococci; rows or chains of such cells are called streptococci; (Streptococcus) grapelike clusters of cells, staphylococci; (staphylococcus) packets of eight or more cells, sarcinae; and groups of four cells in a square arrangement, tetrads. These characteristic groupings occur as a result of variations in the reproduction process in bacteria. See also staphylococcus; Streptococcus.

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