cycloserine

C3Y4C3L1O1S1E1R1I1N1E1
US/ˌsaɪ.kləˈˈsɛɹˌin/US/ˌsaɪ.kləˈsɪɹˌin/

noun

A broad-spectrum antibiotic C₃H₆N₂O₂ produced by an actinomycete (Streptomyces orchidaceus) and used especially in the treatment of tuberculosis.

OriginEnglish serine ← Latin sēricus ← Ancient Greek σηρῐκός (sērĭkós) →
RareScrabble 18
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Meanings

nouncycloserine (countable and uncountable, plural cycloserines)

plural cycloserines

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA broad-spectrum antibiotic C₃H₆N₂O₂ produced by an actinomycete (Streptomyces orchidaceus) and used especially in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kʷelh₁-redup.
  2. Proto-Indo-European*kʷékʷlos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*kʷókʷlos
  4. Proto-Hellenic*kúklos
  5. Ancient Greekκύκλος (kúklos)
  6. Late Latincyclus
  7. Middle Englishcicle
  8. Englishcycle
  9. Ancient Greekκύκλος (kúklos)
  10. Ancient Greekκυκλῐκός (kuklĭkós)
  11. Classical Latincyclicu
  12. Middle Frenchcyclique
  13. Frenchcyclique
  14. Classical Latincyclicus
  15. Englishcyclic
  16. Englishcyclo-
  17. Old Chinese絲 (*sə)der.?
  18. Ancient Greekσήρ (sḗr)
  19. Ancient Greekσηρῐκός (sērĭkós)
  20. Latinsēricus
  21. Englishserine
  22. Englishcycloserine

From cyclo- + serine.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cycloserine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cycloserine

MLA

“cycloserine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cycloserine. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cycloserine,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cycloserine.

Source: cycloserine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.