CHLAMYDIA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chlamydia mean? 

• CHLAMYDIA (noun)
  The noun CHLAMYDIA has 2 senses:

1. a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria of the genus Chlamydia

2. coccoid rickettsia infesting birds and mammals; cause infections of eyes and lungs and genitourinary tract

  Familiarity information: CHLAMYDIA used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHLAMYDIA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria of the genus Chlamydia

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("chlamydia" is a kind of...):

Cupid's disease; Cupid's itch; dose; sexually transmitted disease; social disease; STD; VD; venereal disease; venereal infection; Venus's curse (a communicable infection transmitted by sexual intercourse or genital contact)

Derivation:

chlamydial (of or pertaining to the sexually transmitted infection or to the parasite)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Coccoid rickettsia infesting birds and mammals; cause infections of eyes and lungs and genitourinary tract

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("chlamydia" is a kind of...):

eubacteria; eubacterium; true bacteria (a large group of bacteria having rigid cell walls; motile types have flagella)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chlamydia"):

C. psittaci; Chlamydia psittaci (bacteria responsible for the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia)

C. trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis (bacteria responsible for the sexually transmitted diseases chlamydia and lymphogranuloma venereum)

Holonyms ("chlamydia" is a member of...):

genus Chlamydia (type genus of the family Chlamydiaceae: disease-causing parasites)

Derivation:

chlamydial (of or pertaining to the sexually transmitted infection or to the parasite)

 Context examples 

Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading chlamydia.

(Chlamydia Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

A species of chlamydiae bacteria that infects humans and is a major cause of pneumonia.

(Chlamydophila pneumoniae, NCI Thesaurus)

Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea, Mycoplasma, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus are the most common causative agents.

(Infectious Salpingitis, NCI Thesaurus)

A lab test can tell if you have chlamydia.

(Chlamydia Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

In men, chlamydia can infect the epididymis, the tube that carries sperm.

(Chlamydia Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

In both men and women, chlamydia can infect the urinary tract.

(Chlamydia Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Babies born to infected mothers can get eye infections and pneumonia from chlamydia.

(Chlamydia Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Chlamydia usually doesn't cause symptoms.

(Chlamydia Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)