n.
Pronunciation: ˌ va ŋ -k ə - ' m ī -s ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: vanco- (of unknown origin) + - mycin
Date: circa 1956
: an antibiotic C 66 H 75 Cl 2 N 9 O 24 derived from an actinomycete ( Amycolatopsis orientalis syn. Streptomyces orientalis ) that is effective against gram-positive bacteria and is used chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride especially against staphylococci resistant to methicillin