bacillus
[ buh-sil-uhs ]
/ bəˈsɪl əs /
Save This Word!
noun, plural ba·cil·li [buh-sil-ahy]. /bəˈsɪl aɪ/.
any rod-shaped or cylindrical bacterium of the genus Bacillus, comprising spore-producing bacteria.
(formerly) any bacterium.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Origin of bacillus
1880–85; <Late Latin, variant of Latin bacillum (diminutive of baculum) staff, walking stick
Words nearby bacillus
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for bacillus
British Dictionary definitions for bacillus
bacillus
/ (bəˈsɪləs) /
noun plural -cilli (-ˈsɪlaɪ)
any rod-shaped bacterium, such as a clostridium bacteriumCompare coccus (def. 2), spirillum (def. 1)
any of various rodlike spore-producing bacteria constituting the family Bacillaceae, esp of the genus Bacillus
Word Origin for bacillus
C19: from Latin: a small staff, from baculum walking stick
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
Medical definitions for bacillus (1 of 2)
bacillus
[ bə-sĭl′əs ]
n. pl. ba•cil•li (-sĭl′ī′)
Any of various rod-shaped, usually gram-positive aerobic bacteria of the genus Bacillus that often occur in chains and include Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax.
Any of various bacteria, especially a rod-shaped bacterium.
Medical definitions for bacillus (2 of 2)
Bacillus
n.
A genus of rod-shaped gram-positive bacteria capable of producing endospores.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for bacillus
bacillus
[ bə-sĭl′əs ]
Plural bacilli (bə-sĭl′ī′)
Any of various pathogenic bacteria, especially one that is rod-shaped.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.