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tubercle bacillus

American  

noun

  1. the bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causing tuberculosis.


tubercle bacillus British  

noun

  1. a rodlike Gram-positive bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis , that causes tuberculosis: family Mycobacteriaceae

"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

Etymology

Origin of tubercle bacillus

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The present comparative rarity of tuberculosis results in large measure from the fact that the average person now seldom comes into contact with the tubercle bacillus.

From Literature

Teach the people the true nature of the tuberculosis, that no one ever has tubercular consumption unless the tubercle bacilli find their way into their lungs.

From Project Gutenberg

The tubercle bacilli remain unstained, while putrefactive bacteria are tinted.

From Project Gutenberg

It does not mean growth for the tubercle bacillus, nor growth for the anopheles mosquito, nor growth for the house-fly, the spider and the louse.

From Project Gutenberg

Toxic secretions of the tubercle bacilli into the culture fluid, or such of them as are soluble in 50% glycerine 4.

From Project Gutenberg