spirillum
[spahy-ril-uh m]
- any of several spirally twisted, aerobic bacteria of the genus Spirillum, certain species of which are pathogenic for humans.
- any of various similar microorganisms.
Origin of spirillum
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for spirillum
Historical Examples
The spirillum is a very slender, wavy thread, about 30 to 40 long.
A Manual of Clinical DiagnosisJames Campbell Todd
In shape bacteria show three different types; the rod-shaped (bacillus), the spherical (coccus), and the spiral (spirillum).
Vibrio spirillum is excessively minute, colourless, and found in decomposing vegetable mixtures.
An Elementary Text-book of the MicroscopeJohn William Griffith
The spirillum of relapsing fever can be identified by the method for the malarial parasite in fresh blood.
A Manual of Clinical DiagnosisJames Campbell Todd
Spirillum, spī-ril′um, n. a genus of bacteria with cylindrical spirally twisted cells:—pl.
spirillum
- any bacterium having a curved or spirally twisted rodlike bodyCompare coccus (def. 1), bacillus (def. 1)
- any bacterium of the genus Spirillum, such as S. minus, which causes ratbite fever
Word Origin
C19: from New Latin, literally: a little coil, from spīra a coil
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for spirillum
n.
(plural spirilla), 1875, Modern Latin, diminutive of Latin spira (see spiral (adj.)). So called for their structure.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
spirillum
(spī-rĭl′əm)
- A member of the genus Spirillum.
- Any of various other spiral-shaped microorganisms.
Spirillum
- A genus of large, aerobic, gram-negative bacteria having an elongated spiral form and a tuft of flagella.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
spirillum
[spī-rĭl′əm]
- Any of various bacteria that are shaped like a spiral, such as the spirochete Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.