bacteria
n. countablen. tiny living things that are made of just one cell. Some of them can make you sick, but others are actually good for your body.
n. microscopic, single-celled organisms that exist in diverse environments. While many species are essential for ecological processes and human health, certain strains are pathogenic and cause infectious diseases.
Washing your hands with soap helps remove harmful bacteria.
The doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics to clear up the bacteria causing her throat infection.
Because beneficial gut bacteria play a crucial role in digestion and immune function, prolonged antibiotic use can sometimes disrupt the body's natural microbiome balance.
Borrowed from New Latin bacteria, plural of bactērium, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion, “little rod”).
From New Latin bactēria, from Ancient Greek βακτηρίᾱ (baktēríā, “rod, stick”).