saccharomyces

noun sac·cha·ro·my·ces \ ˌsa-kə-rō-ˈmī-(ˌ)sēz \

Definition of saccharomyces

: any of a genus (Saccharomyces of the family Saccharomycetaceae) of usually unicellular yeasts (such as a brewer's yeast) that are distinguished by their sparse or absent mycelium and by their facility in reproducing asexually by budding

Recent Examples of saccharomyces from the Web

Five years ago, scientists at a Swiss company called Evolva added genes to Saccharomyces cerevisiae so that the yeasty beasties ferment sugar into the compound that makes vanilla taste vanillish.

— david ferry, WIRED, "Biochemists Are Turning Genetically Modified Yeast Into Perfume and Opioids," 31 Dec. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'saccharomyces.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of saccharomyces

New Latin, from sacchar- + -myces fungus, from Greek mykēs — more at myc-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1873

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

saccharomyces

noun sac·cha·ro·my·ces \ ˌsak-ə-rō-ˈmī-(ˌ)sēz \

medical Definition of saccharomyces

1 capitalized : a genus of unicellular yeasts (as a brewer's yeast) of the family Saccharomycetaceae that are distinguished by their sparse or absent mycelium and by their facility in reproducing asexually by budding

2 plural saccharomyces : any yeast of the genus Saccharomyces