Dictionary Entry
beta-lactam
nounFind the meaning of the word beta-lactam, plus dictionary definition, pronunciation, thesaurus-style synonyms, antonyms, and related vocabulary.
1
Meaning
Dictionary meaning in a clear, student-friendly format.
a class of antibiotics including penicillin that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis — the most widely prescribed class globally [R — recycled from Day 5]
Example Sentence
Doctors prescribed a beta-lactam to knock out the strep bacteria before it could spread.
Usage Note
Use when discussing antibiotic choices, resistance patterns, or comparing drug classes in biology or pharmacology essays.