Pronunciation: ' b ā -t ə - ' lak-t ə - ˌ m ā s, - ˌ m ā z
Function: noun
Etymology: lactam, a cyclic amide (fr. International Scientific Vocabulary lact- + am ide) + -ase
Date: 1965
: an enzyme found especially in staphylococcal bacteria that inactivates the penicillins by hydrolyzing them