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Glite Dictionary
Monilia albicans

Monilia albicans

9.9
A fungus that infects the mouth, skin, gut, or vagina and causes thrush and other infections
  • noun
  • /məˈnɪliə ˈæl.bɪ.kæns/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Monilia albicans
  • Oral thrush is often caused by an overgrowth of Monilia albicans in the mouth.

Examples

  • Antifungal medications are prescribed to treat infections by Monilia albicans.

  • A weakened immune system increases susceptibility to Monilia albicans infections.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with a Monilia albicans infection.

  • Can Monilia albicans cause oral thrush?

  • A weakened immune system increases susceptibility to Monilia albicans infections.

  • Antifungal medications are prescribed to treat infections by Monilia albicans.

  • Oral thrush is often caused by an overgrowth of Monilia albicans in the mouth.

Synonyms

Candida albicans
vsMonilia albicans
  • Specialized
7.5

A fungus that causes infections in the mouth, skin, gut, or vagina, especially in people with weak immune systems

focuses on causing the disease candidiasis rather than host weakness

Surface Forms

Monilia albicans singular
Monilia albicans plural

Morphology

monilia + albicans

This is a Latin taxonomic binomial (a scientific species name) rather than a compositional English phrase; its clinical meaning (a fungus that causes candidiasis) is specialized and not derivable from the parts by an average B1 learner. Although 'Monilia' may indicate a fungus genus, 'albicans' is not a common English word and the full medical sense (infection sites, candidiasis) is technical and unpredictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Monilia albicans comes from Latin words: Monilia from 'monile' meaning 'necklace' because the tiny yeast cells can look like a string of beads, and albicans from 'albus' meaning 'white'. That's why the name fits a white, bead-like fungus that can cause infections such as oral thrush.