bacillus

(bə siləs)

noun pl. bacilli

  1. any of a genus (Bacillus) of rod-shaped bacteria that occur in chains, produce spores, and are active only in the presence of oxygen
  2. any rod-shaped bacterium
  3. loosely any of the bacteria, esp. those causing disease

Origin: ModL < LL, little rod < L bacillum, dim. of baculus, var. of baculum, a stick < IE base *bak-, staff > peg, Gr baktron

See bacillus in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ba·cil·li (-sĭlˈīˌ)
  1. Any of various rod-shaped, spore-forming, aerobic bacteria of the genus Bacillus that often occur in chains and include B. anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax.
  2. Any of various bacteria, especially a rod-shaped bacterium.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin

Origin: , diminutive of Latin baculum, rod; see bak- in Indo-European roots

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