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Bacteria are microorganisms that are the basis of fermentation and infectious diseases. (noun)

An example of bacteria are the organisms that cause common human illnesses like strep throat.

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See bacteria in Webster's New World College Dictionary

plural noun sing. bacterium or bacteria

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.

Related Forms:

bacterial adjective
bacterially adverb

See bacteria in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(băk-tîrˈē-ə)

noun

Plural of bacterium.

See bacteria in Ologies

Bacteria

the branch of biology that studies and classifies bacteria. —bacteriologist, n. —bacteriologic, bacteriological, adj.

a strong resistance by bacteria to absorbing stains. —chromatophobic, adj.

a bacterium that grows well in the presence of hemoglobin. —hemophilic, adj.

the branch of biology that studies microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and pathogenic protozoa. —microbiologist, n.

microphobia, microbiophobia

an abnormal fear of microorganisms. —microphobic, adj.

Learn more about bacteria

» bacteria synonyms

» bacteria Culture

» bacteria medical definition

» bacteria science

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