*coccu*

n. a genus of climbing plants or shrubs.
Syn. -- genus Cocculus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL. cocculus (dim. of L. coccum kermes berry) + L. Indicus of India. ] (Bot.) The fruit or berry of the Anamirta Cocculus, a climbing plant of the East Indies. It is a poisonous narcotic and stimulant. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Cocci [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; grain, seed. See Cochineal. ] 1. (Bot.) One of the separable carpels of a dry fruit. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A genus of hemipterous insects, including scale insects, and the cochineal insect (Coccus cacti). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) A form of bacteria, shaped like a globule. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cytococci [ NL., fr. Gr. ky`tos hollow vessel + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; kernel. ] (Biol.) The nucleus of the cytula or parent cell. Hæckel. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Diplococci [ NL., fr. Gr. diplo`os twofold + ko`kkos grain, seed. ] (Biol.) A form of micrococcus in which cocci are united in a binary manner. See Micrococcus. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'echi^nos hedgehog, sea urchin + ko`kkos grain, seed, berry. So called because forming little granular bodies, each armed with hooklets and disposed upon the inner wall of the hydatid cysts. ] (Zoöl.) A parasite of man and of many domestic and wild animals, forming compound cysts or tumors (called hydatid cysts) in various organs, but especially in the liver and lungs, which often cause death. It is the larval stage of the Tænia echinococcus, a small tapeworm peculiar to the dog. The adult form is not found in man. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; semen, the genitals + NL. & E. coccus. ] (Med.) A microorganism (Neisseria gonnorrhoeae) of the genus Neisseria (formerly Micrococcus), found in the secretion in gonorrhea, and constituting the cause of this disease. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖n.; pl. Micrococci [ NL. See Micro-, and Coccus. ] (Biol.) A genus of Spherobacteria, in the form of very small globular or oval cells, forming, by transverse division, filaments, or chains of cells, or in some cases single organisms shaped like dumb-bells (Diplococcus), all without the power of motion. See Illust. of Ascoccus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Physiologically, micrococci are divided into three groups; chromogenic, characterized by their power of forming pigment; zymogenic, including those associated with definite chemical processes; and pathogenic, those connected with disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Ovococci [ Ovum + Gr. &unr_; grain, seed. ] (Biol.) A germinal vesicle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Pneumo-, and Coccus. ] (Biol.) A form of micrococcus found in the sputum (and elsewhere) of persons suffering with pneumonia, and thought to be the cause of this disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Proto-, and Coccus. ] (Bot.) A genus of minute unicellular algæ including the red snow plant (Protococcus nivalis). [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Spermo-, and Coccus. ] (Physiol.) The nucleus of the sperm cell. [ 1913 Webster ]