Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various rod-shaped or filamentous, chiefly anaerobic microorganisms of the genus Actinomyces, commonly found in the mammalian oral cavity and including pathogenic species, such as the causative agents of actinomycosis.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The ray-fungus: so called from the rosettes of club-shaped structures in which it presents itself. The disease actinomycosis is caused by the presence of this fungus.
  • noun [capitalized] [NL. (Harz, 1877).] A genus of fungi of doubtful relationship. The type is A. bovis, the ray-fungus. See actinomyces, 1.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun soil-inhabiting saprophytes and disease-producing plant and animal parasites

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin Actīnomycēs, genus name : actino– + Greek mukēs, fungus.]

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