Need another word for Bacterium? Use these synonyms of Bacterium from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
microorganism
microbe
germ
bug
virus
fungus
organism
cell
protozoan
archaeon
prokaryote
eukaryote
cyanobacterium
spirochaete
coccus
bacillus
streptococcus
staphylococcus
escherichia
salmonella
lactobacillus
microbiota
flora
fauna
pathogen
disease-causing agent
infectious agent
contaminant
pollutant
toxin
poison
Meaning of Bacterium
A single-celled microorganism that lacks a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
Definitions
- A microscopic organism that belongs to the domain Bacteria, characterized by the absence of a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
- A single-celled microorganism that is typically spherical, rod-shaped, or spiral in form, and is found in almost every habitat on Earth.
- A microbe that is capable of reproducing and responding to its environment, and is often associated with disease or decomposition.
Etymology of Bacterium
The word "bacterium" comes from the Greek word "baktērion", meaning "little staff", which refers to the rod-like shape of some bacteria.
The term was first used by the German botanist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg in 1838 to describe a type of microorganism that was discovered by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century.
Over time, the term "bacterium" has come to be used to describe a wide range of microorganisms that belong to the domain Bacteria.
Example Uses
- The bacterium that causes tuberculosis is a type of mycobacterium.
- The doctor prescribed antibiotics to kill the bacterium that was causing the infection.
- The scientist studied the bacterium under a microscope to learn more about its structure and behavior.