Meanings
noungentamicin (countable and uncountable, plural gentamicins)
plural gentamicins · alternative gentamycin
- countableuncountablebiochemistryA broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic mixture, derived from an actinomycete (Micromonospora echinospora), extensively used as the sulfate in treating severe systemic bacterial infections (as of the urinary tract); (3R,4R,5R)-2-{[(1S,2S,3R,4S,6R)-4,6-diamino-3-{[(2R,3R,6S)-3-amino-6-[(1R)-1-(methylamino)ethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy}-2-hydroxycyclohexyl]oxy}-5-methyl-4-(methylamino)oxane-3,5-diol.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounan antibiotic (trade name Garamycin) that is derived from an actinomycete; used in treating infections of the urinary tract
Similar
Broader
antibioticantibiotic drug
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Alteration of gentamycin, as a blend of gentian violet + kanamycin, from the color of the actinomycete.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 慶大黴素 /庆大霉素
- 慶大黴素 /庆大霉素 (qìngdàméisù)Translations
Italian gentamicina
- gentamicinaTranslations
Portuguese gentamicina
- gentamicinaTranslations
Spanish gentamicina
- gentamicinaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA
gentamicin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gentamicin
MLA
“gentamicin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gentamicin. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gentamicin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gentamicin.
Source: gentamicin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.