E. coli

noun

\ ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī

plural E. coli

Definition of E. coli

: an enterobacterium (Escherichia coli) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness — see enterobacterium illustration

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ecological subspecies

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The first known use of E. coli was in 1925

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E. coli

noun

English Language Learners Definition of E. coli

: a kind of bacteria that is sometimes in food and water and that can make people sick

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E. coli

noun

\ ˌē-ˈkō-ˌlī\

plural E. coli also E. colis

Medical Definition of E. coli

: a straight rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae) that is used in public health as an indicator of fecal pollution (as of water or food) and in medicine and genetics as a research organism and that occurs in various strains that may live as harmless inhabitants of the human lower intestine or may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness marked especially by diarrhea one million acid-resistant E. coli per gram of feces— John Schwartz this E. coli can survive…longer than all the other E. colis— Ed Geldreich