bacteriology

American  

[bak-teer-ee-ol-uh-jee] / bækˌtɪər iˈɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. a branch of microbiology dealing with the identification, study, and cultivation of bacteria and with their applications in medicine, agriculture, industry, and biotechnology.

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bacteriology British  

/ bækˌtɪərɪˈɒlədʒɪ, bækˌtɪərɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the study of bacteria

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bacteriology Scientific  

/ băk-tîr′ē-ŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of bacteria, especially bacteria that cause disease.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bacteriologically
  adverb
• bacteriologic
  adjective
• bacteriological
  adjective
• bacteriologist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of bacteriology

First recorded in 1880–85; bacterio- + -logy

Explanation

Bacteriology is the science of certain single-celled microorganisms, both the harmful ones that cause diseases and the helpful ones in yogurt and kimchi. Bacteriology is formed by adding the suffix -ology, or "science," to bacteria, whose root means "staff," from the shape of the earliest bacteria viewed through a microscope. This branch of biology focuses on every aspect of bacteria, particularly the way medicine can be used to prevent and cure bacterial diseases.