listeria

lis·te·ria

noun \lis-ˈtir-ē-ə\

Definition of LISTERIA

1

capitalized : a genus of small gram-positive flagellated rod-shaped bacteria that do not form spores, are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, and have a tendency to grow in chains and that include one (L. monocytogenes) causing listeriosis

2

: any bacterium of the genus Listeria—called also listerella

—lis·te·ri·al \lis-ˈtir-ē-əl\ adjective

—lis·te·ric \-ik\ adjective