HealthAugust 16, 2026

dermatophyte

DUR-muh-toh-fyt

Definition

A type of fungus that lives on the skin, hair, or nails and thrives by feeding on keratin.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words 'derma' meaning skin and 'phyton' meaning plant, reflecting the historical misclassification of fungi as members of the plant kingdom.

In the news

The article identifies a specific dermatophyte that has developed antimicrobial resistance, highlighting it as an emerging health threat that clinical labs must monitor.

Science & Medicine: San Antonio's fungus lab is on the front line of a growing drug-resistance crisis

Read the full article ↗

Texas Public Radio | TPR

Related words

abiraterone

A medication that blocks an enzyme required for the production of androgens, used to…

Health

acetoacetate

A type of ketone body produced by the liver that serves as an alternative energy source…

Health

agonism

The physiological effect caused by a substance that binds to a receptor to stimulate a…

Health

alveolar

Relating to the alveolar process, the thickened ridge of bone in the jaw that contains…

Health

angiogenesis

The physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels,…

Health

antepartum

Relating to the period of time during pregnancy before the onset of labor.

Health

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.