# microbe

/ˈmaɪˌkɹoʊb/ (US) · /mˈaɪkɹəʊb/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/microbe
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a very tiny living thing, like a bacterium, that you can only see with a microscope.

For teachers: a microscopic organism, such as a bacterium, archaeon, fungus, protozoan, or microscopic alga. Present in virtually every environment, including soil, water, and the human body.

## Examples

- Microbes live everywhere, even on your skin.
- The doctor explains that most microbes in yogurt help digestion and do not cause disease.
- Despite their invisibility, microbes shape soil fertility, ocean chemistry, and human immunity, forming vast ecosystems that scientists are only beginning to map in detail.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.