microorganism
Americannoun
noun
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An organism that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope and that typically consists of only a single cell. Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoans, and certain algae and fungi.
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See Note at germ
Other Word Forms
- microorganic adjective
- microorganismal adjective
Etymology
Origin of microorganism
Explanation
A microorganism is a living thing that is too small to see with the naked eye. Bacteria and amoebas are microorganisms, and while not technically "alive," viruses are also considered microorganisms. The only way to see a microorganism is through a microscope, an instrument used to magnify images of very small things. Microorganisms are fundamental to life on Earth. They decompose dead things, recycle nutrients, aid in digestion, and strengthen our immune systems. They are a key part of biotechnology: Microorganisms are used to treat sewage, clean up pollution, and create medicines. Microorganisms are also used in making foods like bread and cheese. On the negative side, a few microorganisms are harmful, as they can cause disease. Another word for microorganism is microbe.
Vocabulary lists containing microorganism
Ecology - Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems- Introductory
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Ecology - Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems- Middle School
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Ecology - Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Unlike bacteria, the microorganism is less likely to exchange genetic material with other microbes and doesn't take up residence in the gastrointestinal tract where it could potentially disrupt microbial communities.
From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2024
Mr. Gutman is the founder of Primer’s Yeast, a company that sells ancient strains of the microorganism.
From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2024
"Essentially, one of the tools we developed leverages the structure of this graph in order to determine which pieces of DNA appear repeatedly either across microbes or within the same microorganism."
From Science Daily • May 7, 2024
The microorganism also been connected to non-fatal, but sight-threatening, eye infections, sometimes through contaminated contact lens solution.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024
"You couldn't expect a microorganism to evolve here that was capable of feeding on Earth-type tissues; they would have starved to death long ago."
From Islands of Space by Campbell, John Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
