plural noun, singular bacterium

[bak-teer-ee-uh m] (Show IPA)

1.
ubiquitous one-celled organisms, spherical, spiral, or rod-shaped and appearing singly or in
chains, comprising the Schizomycota, a phylum of the kingdom Monera (in some
classification systems the plant class Schizomycetes), various species of which are involved
in fermentation, putrefaction, infectious diseases, or nitrogen fixation.
Origin of bacteriaExpand
Greek

1905-1910
1905-10; < New Latin < Greek baktria, plural of baktrion; see bacterium
Related formsExpand
bacterial, adjective
bacterially, adverb
nonbacterial, adjective
nonbacterially, adverb
unbacterial, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, Random House, Inc. 2017.
Cite This Source
Examples from the Web for bacteriaExpand
Contemporary Examples
The more antibiotics are used inappropriately, the greater the risk ofbacteria growing re
sistant to them.

Without Education, Antibiotic Resistance Will Be Our Greatest Health Crisis Russell Saunders December 18,
2014
If all animals vanished, most bacteria would still live on, but if all bacteriadisappeared,
we would die quickly.

Why Did It Take So Long For Complex Life To Evolve On Earth? Blame Oxygen. Matthew R.
Francis November 1, 2014
But consider that when we eat, the bacteria are actually fed first.

Good Poop Diet Is the Next Big Thing Daniela Drake October 6, 2014
On the other hand, the population of the other major group of bacteria, Bacteroidetes, i
ncreased.

Good Poop Diet Is the Next Big Thing Daniela Drake October 6, 2014
Allen says that some strains of bacteria may be potentially beneficial forsome people b
ut harmful to others.
 Your Probiotic Is Probably B.S. Carrie Arnold June 24, 2014
Historical Examples
Phim sticks to it, too; tells me my peg is downright encouragement to thebacteria.

The Spenders Harry Leon Wilson

A simple experiment will show that no bacteria will exist in that vapor.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 417 Various

bacteria that do not bother you very much might be deadly to us.

Islands of Space John W Campbell

There seems to be no bacteria in the abysses, so there can be no rotting.

The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4) J. Arthur Thomson

This disease is caused by bacteria, of which you have read in anothersection.

Agriculture for Beginners Charles William Burkett

British Dictionary definitions for bacteriaExpand

bacteria
/bktr/
plural noun (sing) -rium (-rm)
1.
a very large group of microorganisms comprising one of the threedomains of living organis
ms. They are prokaryotic, unicellular, andeither free-
living in soil or water or parasites of plants or animals Seealso prokaryote
Derived Forms
bacterial, adjective
bacterially, adverb