[chla.myd.ia] n, pl -i.ae [NL, fr. Gk chlamyd-, chlamys] (1966) 1: any of a genus (Chlamydia, family Chlamydiaceae) of spherical gram-negative intracellular bacteria; esp: one (C. trachomatis) that causes or is associated with various diseases of the eye and urogenital tract including trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, cervicitis, and some forms of urethritis
2: a disease or infection caused by chlamydiae -- chla.myd.i.al adj