1. Spherical or ovoid bacterial cells joined together in pairs. 2. Common name of any organism belonging to the former bacterial genus D.. [diplo- + G. kokkos, berry]
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dip·lo·coc·cus -'käk-əs n any of various encapsulated bacteria (as the pneumococcus) that usu. occur in pairs and that were formerly grouped in a single taxon (genus Diplococcus) but are now all assigned to other genera
dip·lo·coc·cal -əl adj
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n.
any of a group of nonmotile parasitic spherical bacteria that occur in pairs. The group includes the pneumococcus.
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dip·lo·coc·cus (dip″lo-kokґəs) pl. diplococґci. A spherical bacterium occurring predominantly in pairs as a consequence of incomplete separation following cell division in a single plane.Medical dictionary. 2011.