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# penicillin

noun (penicillin, uncountable)

«penicillin» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A medicine made from a mould that kills many bacteria; it is an antibiotic used to treat infections. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science and history lessons, penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming when mould grew on a dish of bacteria and killed them; it has saved millions of lives. In everyday health, some people are allergic to it. Phrases: allergic to penicillin, a course of penicillin.

### Examples

- The doctor gave me penicillin for my sore throat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/#x1)
- Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by accident. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/#x2)
- Penicillin is made from a mould. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/#x3)
- My mum is allergic to penicillin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/#x4)
- Penicillin kills bacteria but not viruses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/#x5)
- Finish the whole course of penicillin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. Spelled with one n then double l: penicillin. Myth: antibiotics like penicillin do not cure colds or flu, which are viruses. Safety: only take medicine a doctor or parent gives you.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «penicillin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/penicillin/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«penicillin» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/penicillin.html) on Mova free.