aerobe

[ air-ohb ]

/ ˈɛər oʊb /

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noun

an organism, especially a bacterium, that requires air or free oxygen for life (opposed to anaerobe).

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Origin of aerobe

First recorded in 1875–80; aer- + (micr)obe

Words nearby aerobe

aeroallergen, aerobacter, aeroballistics, aerobat, aerobatics, aerobe, Aerobee, aerobic, aerobic dancing, aerobics, aerobiology

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for aerobe

aerobe

aerobium (ɛəˈrəʊbɪəm)

/ (ˈɛərəʊb) /

noun plural -obes or -obia (-ˈəʊbɪə)

an organism that requires oxygen for respirationCompare anaerobe

Word Origin for aerobe

C19: from aero- + Greek bios life. Compare microbe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for aerobe

aerobe

[ âr′ōb′ ]

An organism, such as a bacterium, that can or must live in the presence of oxygen. Compare anaerobe.