Coccoidal

/kɒkˈkɔɪdəl/ adjective

Definition

Shaped like or resembling a coccus, which is a spherical bacterium.

Etymology

From coccus (Latin, from Greek kokkos meaning berry) plus -oid (resembling) plus -al (relating to). The term evolved to describe the characteristic round shape of certain bacteria under microscopes.

Kelly Says

Doctors use 'coccoidal' to describe dangerous bacteria like Streptococcus, which are literally ball-shaped and stack together like tiny grapes—their shape is actually a clue to how they cause infections.

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