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clostridium

[ klo-strid-ee-uh m ]
/ klɒˈstrɪd i əm /
|

noun, plural clos·trid·i·a [klo-strid-ee-uh] /klɒˈstrɪd i ə/. Bacteriology.

any of several rod-shaped, spore-forming, anaerobic bacteria of the genus Clostridium, found in soil and in the intestinal tract of humans and animals.

Nearby words

closing snap, closing time, closing volume, clostridia, clostridial, clostridium, clostridium bifermentans, clostridium botulinum, clostridium difficile, clostridium histolyticum, clostridium novyi

Origin of clostridium

1880–85; < New Latin < Greek klōstr-, variant stem of klōstḗr spindle (klōs-, variant stem of klṓthein (see Clotho) + -tēr agent suffix) + New Latin -idium -idium
Related formsclos·trid·i·al, clos·trid·i·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for clostridium

  • Botulism is caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, a hardy anaerobe.

    The Deadliest Botox Has Arrived|Kent Sepkowitz|October 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

  • For the spores of Clostridium tetani, the culture should be three days old, but may be as old as a week.

    The Fundamentals of Bacteriology|Charles Bradfield Morrey

British Dictionary definitions for clostridium

clostridium

/ (klɒˈstrɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -iums or -ia (-ɪə)

any anaerobic typically rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Clostridium, occurring mainly in soil, but also in the intestines of humans and animals: family Bacillaceae . The genus includes the species causing botulism and tetanus
Derived Formsclostridial or clostridian, adjective

Word Origin for clostridium

C20: from New Latin, literally: small spindle, from Greek klōstēr spindle, from klōthein to spin; see -ium
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

Medicine definitions for clostridium

Clostridium

[ klŏ-strĭd′ē-əm ]

n.

A genus of rod-shaped, spore-forming, chiefly anaerobic bacteria including the nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in soil and those causing botulism and tetanus.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.