tetracycline

Friendly

Word: Tetracycline

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Tetracycline is a type of antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics help fight off infections in the body. Tetracycline is derived from tiny living organisms called microorganisms, specifically from a group called Streptomyces.

Usage Instructions:

• Tetracycline is usually taken in pill form or as a liquid.
• It is important to take it exactly as prescribed by a doctor, and to complete the full course of treatment, even if you start feeling better.
• It should not be used for viral infections, like the common cold or flu.

Example Sentence:

• "The doctor prescribed tetracycline to treat her skin infection."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, tetracycline may be discussed in terms of its mechanism of action (how it works in the body), its effectiveness against different types of bacteria, or its role in treating specific conditions, such as acne or respiratory infections.

Word Variants:

• Tetracyclines (plural): Refers to a group of similar antibiotics that includes tetracycline and other related drugs, such as doxycycline and minocycline.
• Tetracycline-resistant: This term describes bacteria that have developed the ability to survive despite the presence of tetracycline, making treatment more difficult.

Different Meanings:

• Tetracycline primarily refers to the antibiotic itself, but in a scientific context, it can also refer to the broader class of antibiotics that share similar properties.

Synonyms:

• Antibiotic (general term)
• Broad-spectrum antibiotic (refers to its ability to treat a wide range of bacteria)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "tetracycline" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, it is often used in medical discussions, so phrases like "put on antibiotics" or "treat with antibiotics" might be relevant.

Summary:

Tetracycline is an important antibiotic used to fight bacterial infections.

Academic

Noun

1. an antibiotic (trade name Achromycin) derived from microorganisms of the genus Streptomyces and used broadly to treat infections

Synonyms

• achromycin