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

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

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

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
It is probably caused by two micro-organisms living in symbiosis—one a fusiform bacillus, the other a long spirillum (Fig. 124).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Vibrio spirillum is excessively minute, colourless, and found in decomposing vegetable mixtures.
An Elementary Text-book of the Microscope|John William Griffith
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

For the tick that carries the spirillum is blind and cannot climb any smooth surface.
Sketches of the East Africa Campaign|Robert Valentine Dolbey

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

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.