ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈkäkəs noun
Etymology: New Latin, from strept- + -coccus
1. capitalized : a genus of nonmotile chiefly parasitic gram-positive bacteria (family Lactobacillaceae) that divide in only one plane, occur in pairs or chains but not in packets, do not form zoogleal masses nor ferment inulin, rarely have capsules, and include various important pathogens of man and domestic animals as well as forms important as starters in the manufacture of dairy products
2. plural streptococ·ci -äˌkī, -ä(ˌ)kē, -äkˌsī, -äk(ˌ)sē
a. : any bacterium of Streptococcus or a closely related genus
b. : a coccus occurring in chains