penicillin-resistant

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Explanation of "Penicillin-Resistant"

Definition:
The word "penicillin-resistant" is an adjective that describes bacteria (germs) that cannot be killed or treated by penicillin, which is a type of antibiotic medicine. Antibiotics are used to help fight infections caused by bacteria.

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might come across terms like "antibiotic resistance," which refers to the broader problem of bacteria becoming resistant to multiple antibiotics, not just penicillin.

Word Variants:

• Penicillin: A type of antibiotic that is often used to treat bacterial infections.
• Resistance: The ability of bacteria to survive despite the presence of antibiotics.

Different Meaning:

While "penicillin-resistant" specifically refers to bacteria, the word "resistant" on its own can refer to anything that is not affected by something else. For example, "heat-resistant" means able to withstand high temperatures.

Synonyms:

• Antibiotic-resistant: A broader term that can refer to bacteria resistant to any antibiotic, not just penicillin.
• Drug-resistant: Similar to antibiotic-resistant, generally referring to any type of medication.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly include "penicillin-resistant," but understanding the term can help you comprehend phrases related to health and medicine. For example, "fight off an infection" means to overcome an illness, which can be difficult if the bacteria are resistant to treatment.

Summary:

"Penicillin-resistant" is an important term in healthcare that describes bacteria that cannot be treated with penicillin.

Academic

Adjective

1. unaffected by penicillin
   • penicillin-resistant bacteria