bacteria

Pronunciation: /bækˈtɪɹ.i.ə/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. 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

Etymology

Borrowed from New Latin bacteria, plural of bactērium, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion, “little rod”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

bacterium

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
microorganism
Narrower (hyponyms)
superbug, pus-forming bacteria, bacteroid, calymmatobacterium, acidophil, rod

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