bacterium

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Hyponyms 1.3.3 Hypernyms 1.3.4 Translations 1.3.5 External links 1.4 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Ancient Greek βακτήριον (bakterion), “‘small staff’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /bækˈ̚tɪɹiəm/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

bacterium (plural bacteria)

1. (microbiology) A single celled organism with no nucleus.

[edit] Usage notes

Bacterium is the singular form of the word. While the plural bacteria is often used as if it were the singular, this is nonstandard. See the examples below.

• Standard usage

  Scientists have discovered a bacterium that infects cattle.

  There are millions of bacteria on every square inch of your skin.

• Nonstandard usage

  * The common cold is caused by a virus, not a bacteria.

  * The bacteria in the wound causes infection.

[edit] Hyponyms

• See also Wikisaurus:bacterium

[edit] Hypernyms

• prokaryote

[edit] Translations

[edit] External links

• Bacterium on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

[edit] See also

• bacillus