First Known Use: 1919
Dictionary
rickettsia
noun rick·ett·sia \ri-ˈket-sē-ə\
plural rick·ett·si·as or rick·ett·si·ae\-sē-ˌē, -ˌī\ also rick·ett·sia
Definition of RICKETTSIA
: any of a family (Rickettsiaceae) of rod-shaped, coccoid, or diplococcus-shaped, often pleomorphic gram-negative bacteria that are intracellular parasites of arthropods (as lice or ticks) and when transmitted to humans cause various diseases (as typhus)
— rick·ett·si·al \-sē-əl\ adjective
See rickettsia defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of RICKETTSIA
New Latin, genus name, from Howard T. Ricketts †1910 American pathologist
Medical Dictionary
rickettsia
noun rick·ett·sia \ri-ˈket-sē-ə\
Medical Definition of RICKETTSIA
1
capitalized : the type genus of the family Rickettsiaceae comprising rod-shaped, coccoid, or diplococcus-shaped often pleomorphic bacteria that live intracellularly in biting arthropods (as lice or ticks) and when transmitted to humans by the bite of an arthropod host cause a number of serious diseases (as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus)
2
plural rick·ett·si·ae \-ˌē\ also rick·ett·sias or rick·ett·sia : any bacterium of the order Rickettsiales and especially of the family Rickettsiaceae
Learn More About RICKETTSIA
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: rickettsia bodyPrevious Word in the Dictionary: ricketsAll Words Near: rickettsia
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up rickettsia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).