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spirillum
[ spahy-ril-uhm ]
/ spaɪˈrɪl əm /
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM spirillum
spi·ril·lar, adjectiveWords nearby spirillum
spired, spirelet, spireme, Spires, spiriferous, spirillum, spirit, spirit away, Spirit Cave, spirit compass, spirited
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use spirillum in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for spirillum
spirillum
/ (spaɪˈrɪləm) /
noun plural -la (-lÉ™)
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, adjectiveWord 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
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Scientific definitions for spirillum
spirillum
[ spÄ«-rÄl′əm ]
Plural spirilla
Any of various bacteria that are shaped like a spiral, such as the spirochete Treponema pallidum, which causes syphilis.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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