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bacillus

Syllabification: (ba·cil·lus)
Pronunciation: /bəˈsiləs/
Translate bacillus | into Italian
Definition of bacillus

noun (plural bacilli /-ˈsilī/)

  • a disease-causing bacterium.
  • a rod-shaped bacterium.

Derivatives

bacillary

Pronunciation: /ˈbasəˌlerē/
adjective

Origin:

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

All bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus are called bacilli, but not all bacteria called bacilli belong to the genus Bacillus.

bacillus in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bacillus in the British & World English dictionary