cryptococcus
Saykrip-toh-KOK-usUS/ˌkɹɪptoʊˈkɑkəs/UK/ˌkɹɪptəʊˈkɒkəs/
Pluralcryptococci
- 1A soil-dwelling fungus of the genus Cryptococcus, certain species of which can cause disease in humans.
The lab identified cryptococcus in a sample of the patient's spinal fluid.
Various cryptococci thrive in soil enriched by pigeon droppings.
Note
A common noun made from a genus name, and the two are written differently. The genus is capitalized and italicized (Cryptococcus), while the everyday word is lowercase and takes the Latin plural cryptococci. Use the capitalized form when naming the genus as a taxonomic group. Use the lowercase noun for the fungi themselves, such as one found in a sample.
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Origin
From the genus name.