clostridium

American  

[klo-strid-ee-uhm] / klɒˈstrɪd i əm /

noun

Bacteriology.

• clostridia
  plural

1. 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.

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clostridium British  

/ klɒˈstrɪdɪəm /

noun

1. 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clostridial
  adjective
• clostridian
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clostridia
  plural

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clostridium clostridia

However, they cautioned that there was no definitive proof that clostridium botulinum had killed Neruda, "nor that it was intentionally used to do so".

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2023

But crucially, the researchers also found in one of Mr. Neruda’s molars traces of the bacteria clostridium botulinum.

From New York Times ● Feb. 15, 2023

They include clostridium, E coli and campylobacter, which cause gastroenteritis.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 31, 2016

Some common zoonotic bacteria include clostridium, E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter, which can cause severe gastrointestinal disease in humans, said Dr. Leni Kaplan, a lecturer of community-practice service at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 21, 2016

It also leaves patients vulnerable to secondary, opportunistic infections like clostridium difficile - or "C. diff."

From Reuters ● May 2, 2013

This general­ly means living in close association with other bacteria, such as the clostridia, that metabolize decaying organic mat­ter and give off hydrogen as a waste product.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 1, 2013