How to pronounce word in English - English Word Dictionary- Learn English free online - English Learning Online

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

bacillus

ba·cil·lus [ bə-ˈsi-ləs]

bacillus

noun

[bə-ˈsi-ləs]

plural bacilli\ bə-ˈsi-ˌlī also -lē \

Definition of bacillus

1 : any of a genus (Bacillus) of rod-shaped gram-positive usually aerobic bacteria producing endospores and including many saprophytes and some parasites (such as B. anthracis of anthrax) broadly : a straight rod-shaped bacterium

2 : bacterium
especially : a disease-producing bacterium

Recent Examples on the Web

//The results found all types of bacteria, like staphylococcus, streptococcus, bacillus cereus, and E. coli.
— Danielle Tullo, House Beautiful, "6 Places Germs Are Hiding In Your House," 11 Oct. 2018
//According to NBC News, researchers announced Thursday that the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been shown, in a small group of study participants, to bring blood sugar levels down.
— Daniel Wilson, sacbee, "Study shows tuberculosis vaccine may reverse Type 1 diabetes," 21 June 2018
//The study, published Thursday in the journal npj Vaccines by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, looked at nine people with type 1 diabetes who were given a vaccine to prevent tuberculosis, called bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).
— Alexandra Sifferlin, Time, "There’s Hope for a Vaccine to Prevent Type 1 Diabetes," 21 June 2018
//The study relied on the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which has been used in humans since 1921.
— Glenn Fleishman, Fortune, "Tuberculosis Vaccine Could Reverse Type 1 Diabetes, Study Shows," 21 June 2018
//The team at Massachusetts General Hospital has been testing the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, used to prevent tuberculosis and to treat some forms of bladder cancer.
— NBC News, "Can a cheap and widely available TB vaccine help diabetics?," 21 June 2018
//According to the new research published in the journal npj Vaccines, a common vaccine for tuberculosis (the bacillus Calmette-Guérrin, or BCG, vaccine) could reverse advanced cases of the disease by permanently lowering blood sugar levels.
— Fiza Pirani, ajc, "Common vaccine may reverse advanced diabetes cases, study finds," 21 June 2018
//Renovations can be observed in older buildings that in Soviet times were factories for mass-producing bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax.
— Joby Warrick, chicagotribune.com, "Poisoning of Russian ex-spy puts spotlight on Moscow's secret military labs," 18 Mar. 2018
//Renovations can be observed in older buildings that in Soviet times were factories for mass-producing bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax.
— Joby Warrick, Washington Post, "Poisoning of Russian ex-spy puts spotlight on Moscow’s secret military labs," 18 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of bacillus

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for bacillus

New Latin, from Medieval Latin, small staff, rod, diminutive of Latin baculus staff, alteration of baculum

Dictionary Entries near bacillus

bacillary dysentery

bacillary white diarrhea

More Definitions forbacillus

bacillus

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bacillus

technical : a straight rod-shaped bacterium that requires oxygen for growth also : a bacterium that causes disease

bacillus

noun

ba·cil·lus | \ bə-ˈsil-əs \

plural bacilli\ -ˌī also -ē \

Medical Definition of bacillus

1a capitalized : a genus of rod-shaped gram-positive endospore-producing usually aerobic bacteria of the family Bacillaceae that include many saprophytes and some parasites (as B. anthracis of anthrax)

b : any bacterium of the genus Bacillus broadly : a straight rod-shaped bacterium

2 : bacterium especially : a disease-producing bacterium