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.

Nearby words

Origin of spirillum

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

Related formsspi·ril·lar, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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 Formsspirillar, 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

Word Origin and History for spirillum

spirillum

(plural spirilla), 1875, Modern Latin, diminutive of Latin spira (see spiral (adj.)). So called for their structure.

Medicine definitions for spirillum

spirillum

[ spī-rĭl′əm ]

n. pl. spi•ril•la (-rĭl′ə)

A member of the genus Spirillum.

Any of various other spiral-shaped microorganisms.

Spirillum

n.

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

Science 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.