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Glite Dictionary
Moraxella catarrhalis

Moraxella catarrhalis

1 6.9
Bacteria often found in the nose and throat that can sometimes cause ear or sinus infections
  • noun
  • /mɔːˈræksələ kəˈtɑːrəlɪs/
  • Specialized
: Moraxella catarrhalis
  • Doctors frequently check for Moraxella catarrhalis in patients experiencing persistent cough and congestion.

Examples

  • When diagnosing respiratory illnesses, healthcare providers may culture samples to identify Moraxella catarrhalis.

  • The combination covers most respiratory pathogens, including S. pneumoniae and the beta-lactamase-producing organisms Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The combination covers most respiratory pathogens, including S. pneumoniae and the beta-lactamase-producing organisms Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Surface Forms

Moraxella catarrhalis singular
Moraxella catarrhalis plural

Morphology

Moraxella + catarrhalis

This is a Latin binomial (scientific species name) whose parts are not common English words with transparent meanings; the listed constituents are not found in the learner dictionary and do not clearly signal “bacteria” or respiratory infection to a B1 learner. Scientific names are lexical labels rather than compositional phrases, so knowing the surface parts would not allow a learner to derive the medical meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Moraxella catarrhalis may come from a doctor named 'Morax' and the word catarrhalis, which comes from 'catarrh' meaning 'runny mucus'. So the name fits a germ that lives in the nose and throat and can sometimes cause ear or sinus infections.