Standard Lemma guide

cycloserine

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • General-American: /ˌsaɪ.kləˈˈsɛɹˌin/
  • General-American: /ˌsaɪ.kləˈsɪɹˌin/

1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: medicine, pharmacology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an antibiotic that is especially active against the tubercle bacillus

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: antibiotic, antibiotic drug

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kwel- Proto-Indo-European *kwékwlos Ancient Greek κῠ́κλος (kŭ́klos)der. Late Latin cyclusbor. Middle English cicle English cycle ▲ Ancient Greek κύκλος (kúklos) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ικός (-ikós) Ancient Greek κυκλῐκός (kuklĭkós)bor. Classical Latin cyclicuslbor. Middle French cyclique French cycliquebor. ▲ Classical Latin cyclicusbor. English cyclic English cyclo- Old Chinese 絲 (*sə)der.? Ancient Greek σήρ (sḗr) ▲ Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek σηρῐκός (sērĭkós)bor. Latin sēricusder. English serine English cycloserine From cyclo- + serine.