bacillus
noun
Simple meaning
Aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
buhsiluhsSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
bəˈsɪləs
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
Any bacilliform (rod-shaped) bacterium.
figurativeby extension
Something which spreads like bacterial infection.
Word at a Glance
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Formality
- Technical
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Common Patterns and Combinations
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Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A species of bacillus that causes anthrax in humans and in animals (cattle and swine and sheep and rabbits and mice and guinea pigs).
A species of bacillus found in soil and decomposing organic matter.
A species of bacillus found in soil and decomposing organic matter.
Comma-shaped bacteria that cause Asiatic cholera.
A form of salmonella that causes gastroenteritis in humans.
Type genus of the Bacillaceae.
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