bacteria

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /bakˈtɪə̯.ri.ə/ (General American) IPA(key): /bækˈtɪɹ.i.ə/ Rhymes: -ɪəɹiə === Etymology 1 === Borrowed from New Latin bacteria, plural of bactērium, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion, “little rod”). ==== Noun ==== bacteria plural of bacterium ==== Noun ==== bacteria (plural bacterias) (US) A type, species, or strain of bacterium. (US, proscribed) Alternative form of bacterium. (derogatory, slang) Lowlife, slob (could be treated as plural or singular). ===== Usage notes ===== This is the plural form of the word. While it is often used as if it were singular (as a collective noun), this is considered nonstandard by some in the US and more elsewhere. See the usage examples under bacterium. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== culture (collective noun) === Etymology 2 === From New Latin bactēria, from Ancient Greek βακτηρίᾱ (baktēríā, “rod, stick”). ==== Noun ==== bacteria (plural bacteriae) (dated, medicine) An oval bacterium, as distinguished from a spherical coccus or rod-shaped bacillus. === Anagrams === Arabetic, race-bait == Galician == === Alternative forms === bactéria (reintegrationist) === Etymology === Borrowed from New Latin bacteria, plural of bactērium, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion, “little rod”). === Noun === bacteria f (plural bacterias) (microbiology) bacterium (a single-celled organism with cell walls but no nucleus or organelles) ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “bacteria”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026 == Latin == === Noun === bactēria nominative/accusative/vocative plural of bactērium == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from New Latin bacteria, plural of bactērium, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion, “little rod”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /baɡˈteɾja/ [baɣ̞ˈt̪e.ɾja] Rhymes: -eɾja Syllabification: bac‧te‧ria === Noun === bacteria f (plural bacterias) (microbiology) bacterium (a single-celled organism with cell walls but no nucleus or organelles) ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “bacteria”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 == Welsh == === Etymology === Borrowed from English bacteria, from New Latin bactēria, plural of bactērium, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion, “little rod”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bakˈtɛrja/ Rhymes: -ɛrja === Noun === bacteria (plural, singular bacteriwm m) bacteria ==== Hyponyms ==== procaryot (“prokaryote”) === Mutation === === Further reading === D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “bacteriwm”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh–English Dictionary, Gwerin R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke, et al., editors (1950–present), “bacteria”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies