tetracycline

noun

tet·​ra·​cy·​cline ˌte-trə-ˈsī-ˌklēn How to pronounce tetracycline (audio) -klən How to pronounce tetracycline (audio)
: a yellow crystalline broad-spectrum antibiotic C22H24N2O8 produced by streptomyces or synthetically
also : any of several chemically related antibiotics (such as doxycycline)

Did you know?

Most chemical names are made up of two or more Greek and Latin roots strung together. Thus, tetracycline, with its cycl- root from the Greek word for "circle", means "four-ringed"—that is, "consisting of four fused hydrocarbon rings". Antibiotics work against bacteria and other tiny organisms (but not viruses); tetracycline, which comes from a kind of soil bacteria, is one of the most used of the antibiotics. "Broad-spectrum" antibiotics work well on numerous organisms; thus, tetracycline has proved effective against acne, chlamydia, cholera, rickets, and various lung and eye infections, among many other conditions.

Examples of tetracycline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Common antibiotics that interact with magnesium include tetracyclines, such as Vibramycin (doxycycline) and Minocin (minocycline), as well as fluoroquinolones like Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Levaquin (levofloxacin). Alex Yampolsky, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2024 Doctors say to avoid are retinol (including tretinoin), salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, hydrocortisone (in the first trimester), chemical sunscreens, hydroquinone, and tetracycline during pregnancy. Katie Becker, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2024 Examples of interacting antibiotics include quinolones (such as ciprofloxacin), tetracyclines, and cephalosporins (like Keflex). Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 22 Sep. 2024 Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic commonly prescribed for moderate to severe rosacea.5 Brand names include Vibramycin, Oracea, and Doryx. Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tetracycline 

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary tetracyclic having four fused hydrocarbon rings + -ine entry 2

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tetracycline was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near tetracycline

Cite this Entry

“Tetracycline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetracycline. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tetracycline

noun
tet·​ra·​cy·​cline ˌte-trə-ˈsī-ˌklēn How to pronounce tetracycline (audio)
: a yellow crystalline antibiotic produced by a soil bacterium or made synthetically

Medical Definition

tetracycline

noun
tet·​ra·​cy·​cline ˌte-trə-ˈsī-ˌklēn How to pronounce tetracycline (audio) -klən How to pronounce tetracycline (audio)
: a yellow crystalline broad-spectrum antibiotic that is produced by a soil actinomycete of the genus Streptomyces (S. viridifaciens) or made synthetically and that is administered chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride C22H24N2O8·HCl
also : any of several chemically related antibiotics (as doxycycline)

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