archaebacteria

American  

[ahr-kee-bak-teer-ee-uh] / ˌɑr ki bækˈtɪər i ə /

Also archaeobacteria

plural noun

Microbiology.

1. a former term for the archaea, which in the three-domain system are no longer classified, either in kingdom or domain, with the bacteria.

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archaebacteria British  

/ ˌɑːkɪbækˈtɪərɪə /

plural noun

1. (formerly) a group of microorganisms now regarded as members of the Archaea See archaean

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Etymology

Origin of archaebacteria

First recorded in 1975–80; from New Latin; Archae- is irregular for archaeo- (perhaps an erroneous Latinizing of Greek arche- ); see origin at arche-, archaeo-, bacteria

Example Sentences

If one compares both ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA in eukaryotes, eubac­teria and archaebacteria, one finds a general pattern, of which the replace­ment of thymine in archaebacterial transfer RNA's is only one example.

From Scientific American • Jan. 1, 2013

The supposed great antiquity of the archaebacteria remains an unproved prejudice, but it is a plausible one.

From Scientific American • Jan. 1, 2013

For some time it had been recognized that various organisms now classified as archaebacteria are individually somewhat peculiar.

From Scientific American • Jan. 1, 2013

Although a few biolo­gists still dispute our interpretation, the idea that archaebacteria represent a sep­arate grouping at the highest level is be­ coming generally accepted.

From Scientific American • Jan. 1, 2013

The phylogenetic evidence suggests that the archaebacteria are at least as old as the other major groups.

From Scientific American • Jan. 1, 2013