noun
penicillin
pehn-ih-SIHL-ihn
noun
1
An antibiotic medicine derived from Penicillium mold, used to treat bacterial infections.
"The doctor prescribed penicillin for his throat infection."
"Some people have a serious allergic reaction to penicillin."
How to Use Penicillin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA widely used antibiotic drug made from a type of mold.
Common mistake
Penicillin allergies are common and can be serious — always mention them to a doctor before treatment.
Common pairings
allergic to penicillin
a course of penicillin
Word Forms
penicillins plural
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The doctor prescribed _____ for his throat infection.
Etymology
Named after the Penicillium mold from which it was first isolated; coined by Alexander Fleming, who discovered it in 1928.