singular form of bacteria
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Bacterium Definition from Arts & Humanities Dictionaries & Glossaries
Bacterium Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
(n.)
A microscopic vegetable organism, belonging to the class Algae, usually in the form of a jointed rodlike filament, and found in putrefying organic infusions. Bacteria are destitute of chlorophyll, and are the smallest of microscopic organisms. They are very widely diffused in nature, and multiply with marvelous rapidity, both by fission and by spores. Certain species are active agents in fermentation, while others appear to be the cause of certain infectious diseases. See Bacillus.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter. AboutA microscopic vegetable organism, belonging to the class Algae, usually in the form of a jointed rodlike filament, and found in putrefying organic infusions. Bacteria are destitute of chlorophyll, and are the smallest of microscopic organisms. They are very widely diffused in nature, and multiply with marvelous rapidity, both by fission and by spores. Certain species are active agents in fermentation, while others appear to be the cause of certain infectious diseases. See Bacillus.
bacterium
\bac*te"ri*um\ (&?;), n.; pl. bacteria (&?;). [nl., fr. gr. &?;, &?;, a staff: cf. f. bactérie. ] (biol.) a microscopic vegetable organism, belonging to the class alg?, usually in the form of a jointed rodlike filament, and found in putrefying organic infusions. bacteria are destitute of chlorophyll, and are the smallest of microscopic organisms. they are very widely diffused in nature, and multiply with marvelous rapidity, both by fission and by spores. certain species are active agents in fermentation, while others appear to be the cause of certain infectious diseases. see bacillus. [
similar words(1)
ratbite fever bacterium
A microbe.
Noun
1. (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission; important as pathogens and for biochemical properties; taxonomy is difficult; often considered plants
(synonym) bacteria
(hypernym) microorganism
(hyponym) acidophil, acidophile
(derivation) bacterize, bacterise
(classification) microbiology
(class) gram-positive
Bacterium Definition from Science & Technology Dictionaries & Glossaries
a single-celled, microscopic organism that reproduces by cell division, usually has a cell wall, and has no distinct cellular nucleus; some bacteria cause disease, whereas others are beneficial (aiding in digestion, for example).
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Description: Unicellular microscopic organism that reproduces by division. Bacteria are found in all habitats, both in the environment and within the bodies of the largest organisms.
Source: Specialized encyclopedia and dictionaries
© European Communities, 1995-2004Source: Specialized encyclopedia and dictionaries
A single-celled microscopic plant-like organism that does not produce chlorophyll.
Catherine R. WeedenBacterium Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals. Bacteria are present in most habitats on Earth, growing in soil, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, water, and deep in the Earth's crust, as well as in organic matter and the live bodies of plants and animals, providing outstanding examples of mutualism in the digestive tracts of humans, termites and cockroaches. There are typically 40 million bacterial cells in a gram of soil and a million bacterial cells in a millilitre of fresh water; in all, there are approximately five nonillion (5×1030) bacteria on Earth, forming a biomass that exceeds that of all plants and animals. Bacteria are vital in recycling nutrients, with many steps in nutrient cycles depending on these organisms, such as the fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere and putrefaction. In the biological communities surrounding hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, bacteria provide the nutrients needed to sustain life by converting dissolved compounds such as hydrogen sulphide and methane. Most bacteria have not been characterised, and only about half of the phyla of bacteria have species that can be grown in the laboratory. The study of bacteria is known as bacteriology, a branch of microbiology.
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Bacterium Definition from Entertainment & Music Dictionaries & Glossaries
Bacterium Definition from Medicine Dictionaries & Glossaries
A microscopic organism composed of a single cell. Many bacteria can cause disease in humans.
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