microbe n. + Add to list US //ˈmaɪˌkɹoʊb// UK //mˈaɪkɹəʊb// mi·crobe SynonymsEtymology Synonyms buggermOriginGRKμικρός→FRAmicrobe→ENmicrobe From French microbe, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) and βίος (bíos, “life”). By surface analysis, micro- + -obe.