microbe
[ mahy-krohb ]
/ ˈmaɪ kroʊb /
noun
a microorganism, especially a pathogenic bacterium.
Nearby words
Origin of microbe
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for microbe
British Dictionary definitions for microbe
microbe
/ (ˈmaɪkrəʊb) /
noun
any microscopic organism, esp a disease-causing bacterium
Derived Formsmicrobial, microbic or rare microbian, adjective
Word Origin for microbe
C19: from French, from micro- + Greek bios life
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
Word Origin and History for microbe
microbe
popular name for a bacterium, 1878, from French microbe, "badly coined ... by Sédillot" [Weekley] in 1878 from Greek mikros "small" (see mica) + bios "life" (see bio-). It is an incorrect use of bios; in Greek the word would mean literally "short-lived."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for microbe
microbe
[ mī′krōb′ ]
n.
A microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease; a minute life form. No longer in technical use.
Related formsmi•cro′bi•al (mī-krō′bē-əl) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for microbe
microbe
[ mī′krōb′ ]
A microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease. See Note at germ.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.