cy·a·no·bac·te·ri·um (s   -n -b k-tîr  -m, s-n-)n. pl. cy·a·no·bac·te·ri·a (-tîr -) A photosynthetic bacterium of the class Coccogoneae or Hormogoneae, generally blue-green in color and in some species capable of nitrogen fixation. Cyanobacteria were once thought to be algae. Also called blue-green alga. |
cyanobacteria [ˌsaɪənəʊbækˈtɪərɪə]
pl n sing -rium [-rɪəm]
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Microbiology) a group of photosynthetic bacteria (phylum Cyanobacteria) containing a blue photosynthetic pigment Former name blue-green algae
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  cyanobacteria - predominantly photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms containing a blue pigment in addition to chlorophyll; occur singly or in colonies in diverse habitats; important as phytoplanktoneubacteria, eubacterium, true bacteria - a large group of bacteria having rigid cell walls; motile types have flagella class Cyanobacteria, class Cyanophyceae, Cyanophyceae - photosynthetic bacteria found in fresh and salt water, having chlorophyll a and phycobilins; once thought to be algae: blue-green algae nostoc - found in moist places as rounded jellylike colonies trichodesmium - large colonial bacterium common in tropical open-ocean waters; important in carbon and nitrogen fixation |
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