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bacillus

Pronunciation: /bəˈsɪləs/

Translate bacillus | into Italian

Definition of bacillus

noun (plural bacilli /-lʌɪ, -liː/)

a rod-shaped bacterium.
a disease-causing bacterium: the bacillus was thought to have proliferated in water polluted by sewage tubercle bacilli

Derivatives

bacillary

Origin:

late 19th century: from late Latin, diminutive of Latin baculus 'stick'

All bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus are called bacilli. However, there are some bacteria, also called bacilli, which do not belong to the genus Bacillus.