bacillus
ba·cil·lus
noun \bə-ˈsi-ləs\ plural ba·cil·li\-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 (as B. anthracis of anthrax); broadly : a straight rod-shaped bacterium
2
: bacterium; especially : a disease-producing bacterium
See Origin of BACILLUS
New Latin, from Medieval Latin, small staff, rod, diminutive of Latin baculus staff, alteration of baculum
First Known Use: circa 1879
Rhymes with BACILLUS
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