gram stain

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Word: Gram Stain

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "gram stain" is a laboratory technique used to classify bacteria based on how they react to certain dyes. In this process, bacteria are first stained with a purple dye called gentian violet. Then, they go through a treatment with a special solution (Gram's solution), followed by a decolorization step using alcohol. Finally, they are stained again with a red dye called safranin. Bacteria that keep the purple color are called "gram-positive," while those that turn red are "gram-negative."

Usage Instructions:

• When to use: You would use "gram stain" when talking about microbiology, especially in contexts involving bacteria and infection diagnosis.
• How to use: You can use it in sentences related to scientific research, clinical testing, or educational discussions about bacteria.

Example:

• "The doctor ordered a gram stain to determine if the bacteria causing the infection are gram-positive or gram-negative."

Advanced Usage:

In advanced discussions, you might refer to the implications of gram staining in antibiotic treatment, as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria often respond differently to various antibiotics.

Word Variants:

• Gram-positive: Refers to bacteria that retain the gentian violet dye.
• Gram-negative: Refers to bacteria that do not retain the gentian violet dye and take up the safranin instead.

Different Meanings:

In a general sense, "gram" can refer to a unit of measurement in the metric system, but in this context, it specifically pertains to the gram stain technique.

Synonyms:

There are no direct synonyms for "gram stain," but related terms include: - Bacterial staining - Microbial staining

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "gram stain" does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with it, you might encounter phrases like "stain test" in general discussions about testing or analyzing substances.

Summary:

In summary, the "gram stain" is an important technique in microbiology for classifying bacteria into two main groups based on their cell wall structure and staining properties.

Academic

Noun

1. a staining technique used to classify bacteria; bacteria are stained with gentian violet and then treated with Gram's solution; after being decolorized with alcohol and treated with safranine and washed in water, those that retain the gentian violet are Gram-positive and those that do not retain it are Gram-negative

Synonyms

• Gram's method
• Gram method
• Gram's procedure
• Gram's stain
• Gram stain