E. coli

[ee koh-lahy]

noun

Bacteriology.

1. Escherichia coli: a species of rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacteria in the large intestine of humans and other animals, sometimes pathogenic.

E. coli

/ ˌiːˈkəʊlaɪ /

noun

1. short for Escherichia coli; see Escherichia

E. coli

1. A bacillus (Escherichia coli) normally found in the human gastrointestinal tract and occurring in numerous strains, some of which are responsible for diarrheal diseases. Other strains have important experimental uses in molecular biology.

Word History and Origins

Origin of E. coli¹

See Escherichia coli ( def. )

Example Sentences

The microbe used by Stephen Wallace, professor of chemical biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, was Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli.

From BBC

The owners eventually stopped maintaining potable water on the ranch, raising the risk of E. coli or other diseases, according to the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times

In October, McDonald’s faced a major setback after it found itself at the center of an E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions in its Quarter Pounders.

From Salon

Officials are warning the public to stay out of the water near a popular resort on Lake Tahoe’s Southern shore this weekend after detecting “high levels” of E. coli bacteria Friday after a sewage leak.

From Los Angeles Times

Last fall, the fast-food giant landed in hot water after a deadly E. coli outbreak was traced back to fresh, slivered onions served on its Quarter Pounder hamburgers.

From Salon