bacterium

noun
UK: /bækˈtɪəriəm/
US: /bækˈtɪriəm/

  1. A very small living thing that can cause disease.

    1. This bacterium can make you sick very fast, be careful with it. [ ] [ ]
    2. The bacterium in the soil helps plants grow, decomposing organic matter into nutrients. [ ] [ ]

  2. A single-celled organism without a nucleus, some of which are beneficial and others harmful.

    1. The bacterium is too small to see without a microscope in the lab. [ ] [ ]
    2. Scientists are studying how this bacterium survives in extreme environments such as hot springs. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

germ organism microbe
bacterium verb

  1. To treat with antibacterial substances in order to eliminate bacteria.

    1. We must bacterium the wound to prevent further infection. [ ] [ ]
    2. The medical team will bacterium the area before surgery to reduce the risk. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "bacterium" in English means: A very small living thing that can cause disease., A single-celled organism without a nucleus, some of which are beneficial and others harmful..

The phonetic transcription of "bacterium" is /bækˈtɪəriəm/ in British English and /bækˈtɪriəm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "bacterium": germ, organism, microbe.

Example usage of "bacterium": "This bacterium can make you sick very fast, be careful with it.". More examples on the page.