I. kləˈmidēə noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek chlamyd-, chlamys mantle + New Latin -ia
: the type genus of Chlamydiaceae comprising coccoid to spherical gram-negative intracellular parasites and including the causative agent of trachoma
II. noun
( plural chlamydiae also chlamydias )
1. : a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia
2. : an infection or disease (as trachoma or nongonococcal urethritis) caused by chlamydiae
• chlamydial -ēəl adjective