coliform

[kol-uh-fawrm, koh-luh-]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a coliform bacillus.

noun

1. coliform bacillus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of coliform¹

1850–55; < New Latin coli, genitive of Latin colum, colon colon ² (the specific epithet of various species of bacteria inhabiting the colon, as Escherichia coli; construed as col- + -i- ) + -form

Example Sentences

Many of the violations were for unsafe levels of arsenic or coliform bacteria.

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Heal the Bay monitors beaches along the California coast — testing water samples for fecal bacteria, including coliform, E. coli and enterococcus.

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Federal prosecutors said that water testing and monitoring around the spill found “exceedances of applicable water quality standards for total coliform bacteria, E. coli, and Enterococcus,” the latter being another type of bacteria that can contaminate waterways.

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As of Thursday, the board has lifted the advisory in the city’s West Bank, while the East Bank’s was extended, with two out of 90 water samples testing positive for coliform bacteria.

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The department has been testing the surface water, and the latest July results identified high levels of coliform and E. coli bacteria, which is typical in floodwater.

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