Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various small spiral-shaped bacteria of the genus Spiroplasma that lack a cell wall, move by means of a flexing motion, and cause diseases in some plants and insects.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin Spīroplasma, genus name : Latin spīra, coil; see spire + plasma.]

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