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
Words nearby bacillus
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-sĭl′əs ]
n. pl. ba•cil•li (-sĭl′ī′)
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-sĭl′əs ]
Plural bacilli (bə-sĭl′ī′)
Any of various pathogenic bacteria, especially one that is rod-shaped.