'Bacilli' definitions:

Definition of 'Bacilli'

From: GCIDE
  • Bacillus \Ba*cil"lus\, n.; pl. Bacilli. [NL., for L. bacillum. See Bacillari[ae].] (Biol.) A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'bacilli'

From: GCIDE
  • bacilli \bacilli\ n. plural of bacillus; usually designating aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacteria; they often occur in chainlike formations.
  • Syn: bacillus [WordNet 1.5]