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listeria Definition

lis·te·ria (lis tir′ē ə)

noun

any of a genus (Listeria, esp. L. monocytogenes) of small, Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that cause listeriosis, sometimes found in dairy products and raw meat

Etymology: after Joseph Lister

listeria Usage Examples

Converse of object

contain: These cheeses are made with mold and they can contain listeria, a type of bacteria that could harm your unborn baby.

Modifies a noun

  • bacterium: Two germs of this kind are the listeria bacteria and the toxoplasmosis parasite.
  • monocytogene: More detailed guidance was provided for ready-to-eat food, shelf life and listeria monocytogenes criteria, and minced meat sampling.
  • infection: The normal symptoms of listeria infection are not those of food poisoning.

Preposition: in

cheese: They had in mind the consequences of previous food scares in respect of listeria in cheese and salmonella in eggs.