bacterium
[ bak-teer-ee-uh m ]
/ bækˈtɪər i əm /
noun
singular of bacteria.
Origin of bacterium
1840–50; < New Latin < Greek
baktḗrion, diminutive of
baktēría staff; akin to
báktron stick, Latin
baculum, bacillum
Words nearby bacterium
Definition for bacterium (2 of 2)
bacteria
[ bak-teer-ee-uh ]
/ bækˈtɪər i ə /
plural noun, singular bac·te·ri·um [bak-teer-ee-uh m] /bækˈtɪər i əm/.
ubiquitous one-celled organisms, spherical, spiral, or rod-shaped and appearing singly or in chains, comprising the Schizomycota, a phylum of the kingdom Monera (in some classification systems the plant class Schizomycetes), various species of which are involved in fermentation, putrefaction, infectious diseases, or nitrogen fixation.
Origin of bacteria
OTHER WORDS FROM bacteria
Example sentences from the Web for bacterium
British Dictionary definitions for bacterium (1 of 2)
British Dictionary definitions for bacterium (2 of 2)
bacteria
/ (bækˈtɪərɪə) /
pl n singular -rium (-rɪəm)
a very large group of microorganisms comprising one of the three domains of living organisms. They are prokaryotic, unicellular, and either free-living in soil or water or parasites of plants or animals
See also prokaryote
Derived forms of bacteria
bacterial, adjective bacterially, adverbWord Origin for bacteria
C19: plural of New Latin
bacterium, from Greek
baktērion, literally: a little stick, from
baktron rod, staff
Medical definitions for bacterium (1 of 2)
bacterium
[ băk-tîr′ē-əm ]
n. pl. bac•te•ri•a (-tîr′ē-ə)
Any of the unicellular, prokaryotic microorganisms of the class Schizomycetes, which vary in terms of morphology, oxygen and nutritional requirements, and motility, and may be free-living, saprophytic, or pathogenic, the latter causing disease in plants or animals.
Medical definitions for bacterium (2 of 2)
bacteria
[ băk-tîr′ē-ə ]
n.
Plural ofbacterium
Scientific definitions for bacterium (1 of 2)
bacterium
[ băk-tîr′ē-əm ]
Plural bacteria
Any of a large group of one-celled organisms that lack a cell nucleus, reproduce by fission or by forming spores, and in some cases cause disease. They are the most abundant lifeforms on Earth, and are found in all living things and in all of the Earth's environments. Bacteria usually live off other organisms. Bacteria make up most of the kingdom of prokaryotes (Monera or Prokaryota), with one group (the archaea) sometimes classified as a separate kingdom. See also archaeon prokaryote.
Other words from bacterium
bacterial adjectiveScientific definitions for bacterium (2 of 2)
bacteria
[ băk-tîr′ē-ə ]
Plural of bacterium.
Cultural definitions for bacterium
bacteria
sing. bacterium
Microorganisms made up of a single cell that has no distinct nucleus. Bacteria reproduce by fission or by forming spores.