Definition of 'bacteria'

Word Frequency

bacteria

(bæktɪəriə )

plural noun

Bacteria are very small organisms. Some bacteria can cause disease.

Chlorine is added to kill bacteria.

Word Frequency

(bækˈtɪərɪə )

plural noun 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

(bækˈtɪriə ; baktirˈēə)

plural nounWord forms: singular bacˈterium (bækˈtɪriəm ; baktirˈēəm) or bacˈteria

any of a division (Bacteria) of monerans, microorganisms which are typically one-celled, have no chlorophyll, multiply by simple division, and can be seen only with a microscope: they occur in three main forms, spherical (cocci), rod-shaped (bacilli), and spiral (spirilla): some bacteria cause diseases such as pneumonia and anthrax, and others are necessary for fermentation, nitrogen fixation, etc.

Derived forms

bacterial (bacˈterial)

adjective

bacterially (bacˈterially)

adverb

Word origin of 'bacteria'

ModL, pl. of bacterium < Gr baktērion, dim. of baktron, a staff: see bacillus

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

His eyes glowed bright purple with the light of luminescent bacteria colonies implanted in his irises. Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD

Rhodes thought of Van Vliet's new theory, the floating soup of amino acids out of which wondrously virulent bacteria would be generated.

In Common Usage. bacteria is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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British English: bacteria /bækˈtɪərɪə/ NOUN

Bacteria are very small organisms which can cause disease.

Chlorine is added to the water to kill bacteria.

Definition of bacteria from the Collins English Dictionary

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