ba·cil·lus (b -s l s)n. pl. ba·cil·li (-s l  ) 1. Any of various rod-shaped, spore-forming, aerobic bacteria of the genus Bacillus that often occur in chains and include B. anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. 2. Any of various bacteria, especially a rod-shaped bacterium. [Late Latin, diminutive of Latin baculum, rod; see bak- in Indo-European roots.] |
bacillus [bəˈsɪləs]
n pl -cilli [-ˈsɪlaɪ]
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Microbiology) any rod-shaped bacterium, such as a clostridium bacterium Compare coccus [1] spirillum [1]
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Microbiology) any of various rodlike spore-producing bacteria constituting the family Bacillaceae, esp of the genus Bacillus
[from Latin: a small staff, from baculum walking stick]
| bacillus (b-sls) Plural bacilli (b -sl) Any of various pathogenic bacteria, especially one that is rod-shaped. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  bacillus - aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soilanthrax bacillus, Bacillus anthracis - a species of bacillus that causes anthrax in humans and in animals (cattle and swine and sheep and rabbits and mice and guinea pigs); can be used a bioweapon Bacillus globigii, Bacillus subtilis, grass bacillus, hay bacillus - a species of bacillus found in soil and decomposing organic matter; some strains produce antibiotics Yersinia pestis - a bacillus bacterium that causes the plague; aerosolized bacteria can be used as a bioweapon eubacteria, eubacterium, true bacteria - a large group of bacteria having rigid cell walls; motile types have flagella genus Bacillus - type genus of the Bacillaceae; includes many saprophytes important in decay of organic matter and a number of parasites |
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