ˌte.trəˈsīˌklīn, -_klə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary tetracycl ic + -ine
1. : a yellow crystalline broad-spectrum antibiotic C 22 H 24 N 2 O 8 derived from an octa-hydro-naphthacene, produced by a soil actinomycete ( Streptomyces viridifaciens ), or prepared from chlortetracycline by catalytic reduction, and administered usually in the form of its hydrochloride
2. : any of various derivatives of tetracycline (as chlortetracycline or oxytetracycline)