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Glite Dictionary
Alexander Fleming

Alexander Fleming

3.6
A Scottish scientist known for discovering penicillin
  • proper noun
translation icon : Alexander Fleming
  • The famous scientist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.

Examples

  • Alexander Fleming was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945 for his discovery of penicillin.

  • Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.

  • Many students learn about Alexander Fleming when studying the history of antibiotics.

  • The work of Alexander Fleming revolutionized modern medicine and saved countless lives.

  • Alexander Fleming was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945 for his discovery of penicillin.

  • Many students learn about Alexander Fleming when studying the history of antibiotics.

  • The work of Alexander Fleming revolutionized modern medicine and saved countless lives.

Synonyms

Fleming
vsAlexander Fleming
64 6.0

A Scottish scientist who discovered penicillin and changed medicine

identifies the same scientist without the honorific and with less stated impact

Surface Forms

Alexander Fleming main

Morphology

Alexander + Fleming

This is a proper name referring to a specific individual; knowing the constituents only signals a personal name but does not convey his identity or role. The fact that Alexander Fleming was a Scottish bacteriologist who discovered penicillin is arbitrary information not derivable from the parts, so a B1 learner would not infer it from the constituents alone.

Etymology

Alexander Fleming noticed a green mold on a plate in his lab that had killed the bacteria around it, a lucky scene that gave him a clear idea. Because he 'discovered penicillin', a medicine that kills bacteria, his work led to treatments that have saved many lives.