spirillum

[ spahy-ril-uh m ]

/ spaɪˈrɪl əm /

noun, plural spi·ril·la [spahy-ril-uh] /spaɪˈrɪl ə/. Bacteriology.

any of several spirally twisted, aerobic bacteria of the genus Spirillum, certain species of which are pathogenic for humans.

any of various similar microorganisms.

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Origin of spirillum

1870–75; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin spīr(a) (see spire²) + -illum diminutive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM spirillum

spi·ril·lar, adjective

Words nearby spirillum

spirelet, spireme, spires, spiriferous, spirillar, spirillum, spirillum minus, spirit, spirit away, spirit cave, spirit compass

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for spirillum

In Spirorbis Pagenstecheri they develop inside the opercular tentacle, and in Spirorbis spirillum inside the tube of the parent.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume II (of 4)|Francis Maitland Balfour
By far the most important of these is the spirillum or spirochete of Obermeier, which has been already carefully described.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I|Various
The spirillum of relapsing fever can be identified by the method for the malarial parasite in fresh blood.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The spirillum is a very slender, wavy thread, about 30 to 40 long.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

Spirillum, spī-ril′um, n. a genus of bacteria with cylindrical spirally twisted cells:—pl.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for spirillum

spirillum

/ (spaɪˈrɪləm) /

noun plural -la (-lə)

any bacterium having a curved or spirally twisted rodlike bodyCompare coccus (def. 1), bacillus (def. 1)

any bacterium of the genus Spirillum, such as S. minus, which causes ratbite fever

Derived forms of spirillum

spirillar, adjective

Word Origin for spirillum

C19: from New Latin, literally: a little coil, from spīra a coil

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

Medical definitions for spirillum (1 of 2)

spirillum

[ spī-rĭl′əm ]

n. pl. spi•ril•la (-rĭl′ə)

A member of the genus Spirillum.

Any of various other spiral-shaped microorganisms.

Medical definitions for spirillum (2 of 2)

Spirillum

n.

A genus of large, aerobic, gram-negative bacteria having an elongated spiral form and a tuft of flagella.

Scientific definitions for spirillum

spirillum

[ spī-rĭl′əm ]

Plural spirilla

Any of various bacteria that are shaped like a spiral, such as the spirochete Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis.