'Bacteria' definitions:
Definition of 'bacteria'
From: WordNet
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 [syn: bacteria, bacterium]
Definition of 'Bacteria'
From: GCIDE
- Bacterium \Bac*te"ri*um\ (b[a^]k*t[=e]"r[i^]*[u^]m), n.; pl. Bacteria (b[a^]k*t[=e]"r[i^]*[.a]). [NL., fr. Gr. bakth`rion, ba`ktron, a staff: cf. F. bact['e]rie.] (Biol.) A microscopic single-celled organism having no distinguishable nucleus, belonging to the kingdom Monera. Bacteria have varying shapes, usually taking the form of a jointed rodlike filament, or a small sphere, but also in certain cases having a branched form. Bacteria are destitute of chlorophyll, but in those members of the phylum Cyanophyta (the blue-green algae) other light-absorbing pigments are present. They are the smallest of microscopic organisms which have their own metabolic processes carried on within cell membranes, viruses being smaller but not capable of living freely. The bacteria are very widely diffused in nature, and multiply with marvelous rapidity, both by fission and by spores. Bacteria may require oxygen for their energy-producing metabolism, and these are called aerobes; or may multiply in the absence of oxygen, these forms being anaerobes. Certain species are active agents in fermentation, while others appear to be the cause of certain infectious diseases. The branch of science with studies bacteria is bacteriology, being a division of microbiology. See Bacillus. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Synonyms of 'bacteria'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adenovirus,
- aerobe,
- aerobic bacteria,
- amoeba,
- anaerobe,
- anaerobic bacteria,
- animalcule,
- bacillus,
- bacterium,
- bug,
- coccus,
- colon bacillus,
- diatom,
- disease-producing microorganism,
- dyad,
- echovirus,
- enterovirus,
- Euglena,
- filterable virus,
- flagellate,
- fungus,
- germ,
- gram-negative bacteria,
- gram-positive bacteria,
- microbe,
- microorganism,
- microspore,
- microzoa,
- mold,
- monad,
- nematode,
- nonfilterable virus,
- paramecium,
- pathogen,
- picornavirus,
- protozoa,
- protozoon,
- reovirus,
- rhinovirus,
- rickettsia,
- salmonella,
- saprophyte,
- spirillum,
- spirochete,
- spore,
- sporozoon,
- staphylococcus,
- streptococcus,
- tetrad,
- triad,
- trypanosome,
- vibrio,
- virus,
- volvox,
- vorticellum,
- zoospore
Words containing 'Bacteria'
- bacteria bed,
- bacteria family,
- bacteria genus,
- bacteria order,
- bacteria species,
- enteric bacteria,
- gliding bacteria,
- nitric bacteria,
- nitrous bacteria,
- phototrophic bacteria,
- phototropic bacteria,
- purple bacteria,
- slime bacteria,
- sulfur bacteria,
- sulphur bacteria,
- true bacteria,
- potato scab bacteria,
- ring rot bacteria,
- endospore-forming bacteria,
- penicillin-resistant bacteria,
- pus-forming bacteria