Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Plural of bacterium, [capitalized] A genus of gressorial orthopterous insects, of the family Phasmidæ; the stick-insects or walking-sticks. B. sarmentosa is about 10 inches long. See Phasmidæ.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun plural See bacterium.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Plural form of bacterium.
  • noun US A type, species, or strain of bacterium
  • noun US, proscribed Alternative form of bacterium.
  • noun pejorative, slang A derisive term for a lowlife or a slob (could be treated as plural or singular).
  • noun dated, medicine An oval bacterium, as distinguished from a spherical coccus or rod-shaped bacillus

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun (microbiology) single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rod-shaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by fission; important as pathogens and for biochemical properties; taxonomy is difficult; often considered to be plants

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From New Latin bacteria, from Ancient Greek βακτηρία (baktēria, "rod, stick").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From New Latin bacteria, plural of bacterium, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktērion), neuter diminutive of βακτηρία (baktēria, "rod, stick").

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Examples

  • Though you might think it of no consequence, the spontaneous evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is very major from the point of view of a bacterium.

    A Disclaimer for Behe? 2009

  • Though you might think it of no consequence, the spontaneous evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is very major from the point of view of a bacterium.

    A Disclaimer for Behe? 2009

  • Protection against infection by certain bacteria is based on immunity to this sugar coating (and not the whole bacteria).

    How Are Vaccines Made? 2008

  • As already mentioned, the photosynthetic apparatus in bacteria is simpler than in algae and higher plants.

    Press Release: The 1988 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1988

  • Photosynthesis in bacteria is simpler than in algae and higher plants, but the work now rewarded has led to increased understanding of photosynthesis in these organisms as well.

    Press Release: The 1988 Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1988

  • Hoffman in 1869, since which date the term bacteria, as applying to this special group of organisms, has been coming more and more into use.

    The Story of Germ Life

  • These two classes of germs are foreign to the present topic, which is surgery; and I shall, therefore, confine my remarks to that group of vegetable parasites to which the term bacteria has been given.

    Scientific American Supplement, No. 810, July 11, 1891 Various

  • Peaceful coexistence between humans and the bacteria is the need of the hour.

    Boing Boing 2007

  • Resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream.

    Liver anatomy and function 2010

  • Mung: This means I acknowledge exponential growth can be observed in bacteria in culture.

    An Ancient Time Frame 2009

Comments

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  • Bacteria Museum.

    January 31, 2010

  • I wonder whether they place those hand sanitizer stations by the entrances?

    February 2, 2010

  • What about a dusty old collection of muses? Wouldn't that belong in a museum?

    I have no idea how this bit of doggerel relates to bacteria.

    February 2, 2010

  • We are not a muse.

    February 3, 2010

  • Not collectively, anyway.

    February 3, 2010

  • We could try to be muse.

    February 3, 2010

  • Wouldn't that be a ruse?

    February 3, 2010

  • Maybe, "we are not amuse-ed." ?

    February 3, 2010

  • That would not amuse-ed carriwitchet, you stripe-ed jokester, you. ;-)

    February 3, 2010

  • I was thinking ruse, ruzu style.

    February 3, 2010

  • Just so long as there's no cow-tipping involved. I've never found it amoosing.

    February 3, 2010

  • I find that abstruse.

    February 3, 2010

  • Instead of Word of the Day we could have a Daily Muse Bulletin.

    February 3, 2010

  • *musing*

    February 3, 2010

  • But we are not a muse. Ever.

    February 3, 2010

  • Not collectively, anyway.

    February 5, 2010