microbe

[mahy-krohb]

noun

1. a microorganism, especially a pathogenic bacterium.

microbe

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊb /

noun

1. any microscopic organism, esp a disease-causing bacterium

microbe

1. A microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease.

2. See Note at germ

Other Word Forms

• microbial adjective
• microbeless adjective
• microbic adjective
• microbian adjective
• nonmicrobic adjective
• unmicrobial adjective
• unmicrobic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of microbe¹

1880–85; < French < Greek mīkro- micro- + bíos life

Word History and Origins

Origin of microbe¹

C19: from French, from _micro- + Greek bios life

Example Sentences

In lab and animal studies, they promoted the growth of beneficial gut microbes, hinting that they might also boost digestive health in humans.

Read more on Science Daily

Medications a person took years ago can still influence the community of microbes living in their gut, according to a large study conducted by the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics.

Read more on Science Daily

While human bodies can manufacture these fatty acids, the molecules also are found in dairy products and human breast milk and are made by certain gut microbes.

Read more on Science Daily

Humans are constantly exposed to microbes that could make us sick, and the immune system developed to protect us.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Their experiments showed that a short blast of ultraviolet light killed the microbes and banished the stink.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bacillus 
• bacterium 
• bug 
• germ 
• microorganism 
• pathogen 
• virus