bacillus

[ buh-sil-uh s ]
/ bəˈsɪl əs /

noun, plural ba·cil·li [buh-sil-ahy] /bəˈsɪl aɪ/.

any rod-shaped or cylindrical bacterium of the genus Bacillus, comprising spore-producing bacteria.
(formerly) any bacterium.

Origin of bacillus

1880–85; < Late Latin, variant of Latin bacillum (diminutive of baculum) staff, walking stick

Example sentences from the Web for bacillus

British Dictionary definitions for bacillus

bacillus
/ (bəˈsɪləs) /

noun plural -cilli (-ˈsɪlaɪ)

any rod-shaped bacterium, such as a clostridium bacterium Compare coccus (def. 2), spirillum (def. 1)
any of various rodlike spore-producing bacteria constituting the family Bacillaceae, esp of the genus Bacillus

Word Origin for bacillus

C19: from Latin: a small staff, from baculum walking stick

Medical definitions for bacillus (1 of 2)

bacillus
[ bə-sĭləs ]

n. pl. ba•cil•li (-sĭlī′)

Any of various rod-shaped, usually gram-positive aerobic bacteria of the genus Bacillus that often occur in chains and include Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax.
Any of various bacteria, especially a rod-shaped bacterium.

Medical definitions for bacillus (2 of 2)

Bacillus

n.

A genus of rod-shaped gram-positive bacteria capable of producing endospores.

Scientific definitions for bacillus

bacillus
[ bə-sĭləs ]

Plural bacilli (bə-sĭlī′)

Any of various pathogenic bacteria, especially one that is rod-shaped.