̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈkäkəs noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from nitros us nitrous + -o- + -coccus
: a genus of large nonmotile spherical bacteria (family Nitrobacteriaceae) comprising a single species ( N. nitrosus ) that oxidizes ammonia compounds to nitrites in the soil or on suitable media