Standard Lemma guide

neomycin

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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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌniː.ə(ʊ)ˈmʌɪ.sɪn/
  • General-American: /ˌni.əˈmaɪ.sn̩/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic related to streptomycin that is produced by a streptomyces (Streptomyces fradiae) and used medically especially to treat local infections.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, medicine, microbiology, natural-sciences, pharmacology, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: framycetin

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an antibiotic obtained from an actinomycete and used (as a sulphate under the trade name Neobiotic) as an intestinal antiseptic in surgery

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fradicin, Neobiotic

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: antibiotic, antibiotic drug, antiseptic

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *nu Proto-Indo-European *néwos Proto-Hellenic *néwos Ancient Greek νέος (néos) Ancient Greek νεο- (neo-)der. English neo- English -mycin English neomycin From neo- + -mycin (“antibiotic derived from Streptomyces”).