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ubiquitous one-celled organisms, spherical, spiral, or rod-shaped and appearing singly or in chains, comprising the schizomycota, a phylum of the kingdom monera (in some cl-ssification systems the plant cl-ss schizomycetes), various species of which are involved in fermentation, putrefaction, infectious diseases, or nitrogen fixation.
contemporary examples

he has studied the vibrio genus of bacteria for more than 40 years and still finds it eminently fascinating.
inside florida’s battle with the flesh-eating vibrio vulnificus jacqui g-ddard october 7, 2013

the cuts fracture, creating a microscopic web of fissures below the surface which provide a safe harbor for bacteria.
the dirty truth about cutting boards chad ward august 31, 2009

they encourage the proliferation of bifida, a very important kind of bacteria.
it’s the end of the world unless we all start cooking rachel khong april 22, 2013

as a nasal spray it keeps the p-ssages moist and bacteria free, ideal for travel or ducted heating systems.
these are the 15 supplements to keep in your medicine cabinet ari meisel december 27, 2013

each group of bacteria has different species and each species have different strains (the “code” at the end).
how to choose the right probiotic for you dailyburn may 15, 2014

historical examples

the shock i gave my spinal column in 1915 up in the lakes undoubtedly re-awakened activity among the bacteria.
the journal of a disappointed man wilhelm nero pilate barbellion

a simple experiment will show that no bacteria will exist in that vapor.
scientific american supplement, no. 417 various

boston requires that the milk shall not contain more than 500,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter.
outlines of dairy bacteriology h. l. russell

unless this is done, the filters may become incubators for bacteria.
human foods and their nutritive value harry snyder

the odor and flavor of cheese are due to workings of bacteria which result in the production of aromatic compounds.
human foods and their nutritive value harry snyder

plural noun (sing) -rium (-rɪəm)
a very large group of microorganisms comprising one of the three domains of living organisms. they are prokaryotic, unicellular, and either free-living in soil or water or parasites of plants or animals see also prokaryote
n.

1847, plural of modern latin bacterium, from greek bakterion “small staff,” diminutive of baktron “stick, rod,” from pie -bak- “staff used for support.” so called because the first ones observed were rod-shaped. introduced as a scientific word 1838 by german naturalist christian gottfried ehrenberg (1795-1876).

bacteria bac·te·ri·a (bāk-tǐr’ē-ə)
n.
plural of bacterium.
bac·te’ri·al adj.
bacteria
(bāk-tîr’ē-ə)
plural of bacterium.
bacterium
(bāk-tîr’ē-əm)
plural bacteria
any of a large group of one-celled organisms that lack a cell nucleus, reproduce by fission or by forming spores, and in some cases cause disease. they are the most abundant lifeforms on earth, and are found in all living things and in all of the earth’s environments. bacteria usually live off other organisms. bacteria make up most of the kingdom of prokaryotes (monera or prokaryota), with one group (the archaea or archaebacteria) often cl-ssified as a separate kingdom. see also archaeon, prokaryote.

bacterial adjective

our living language : it is important to remember that bacteria is the plural of bacterium, and that saying a bacteria is incorrect. it is correct to say the soil sample contains millions of bacteria, and tet-n-s is caused by a bacterium.

sing. bacterium

microorganisms made up of a single cell that has no distinct nucleus. bacteria reproduce by fission or by forming spores.

note: some bacteria are beneficial to humans (for example, those that live in the stomach and aid digestion), and some are harmful (for example, those that cause disease).