penicillin
noun /ˌpenɪˈsɪlɪn/
/ˌpenɪˈsɪlɪn/
[uncountable]- a substance obtained from mould, used as a drug to treat or prevent infections caused by bacteria; a type of antibiotic
- The doctor put me on a course of penicillin.
- a strain of bacteria resistant to penicillin
Oxford Collocations DictionaryPenicillin is used before these nouns:- allergy
- injection
Word Originfrom the modern Latin genus name Penicillium, from Latin penicillus ‘paintbrush’ (because of the brush-like fruiting bodies) + -in.