bacillus Hear it!

bacillus definition

ba·cil·lus (bə sil′əs)

noun pl. bacilli -·cil′li′ (-ī)

  1. any of a genus (Bacillus) of rod-shaped bacteria that occur in chains, produce spores, and are active only in the presence of oxygen
  2. any rod-shaped bacterium
  3. loosely any of the bacteria, esp. those causing disease

Etymology: ModL < LL, little rod < L bacillum, dim. of baculus, var. of baculum, a stick < IE base *bak-, staff > peg, Gr baktron

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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