ENGLISH
REFERENCE

microbiology

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //ˌmaɪkɹəˌbaɪˈɑɫədʒi// UK //mˌaɪkɹəʊbaɪˈɒlədʒi// mi·cro·bi·ol·o·gy

n. the study of tiny living things that are too small to see without a microscope, like bacteria and viruses.

n. the branch of biology concerned with the study of microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi, and protozoa.


SIMPLE

She is studying microbiology to understand how bacteria grow.

CONTEXTUAL

Advances in microbiology have allowed researchers to develop more effective antibiotics against resistant strains of bacteria.

COMPLEX

The curriculum integrates microbiology with immunology to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how microscopic pathogens interact with the human immune system.

Origin

From micro- + biology.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the academic field; can be countable when referring to the specific microbial life of a particular environment.

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