: an organism (such as a bacterium) that lives only in the presence of oxygen
Word History
Etymology
alteration (probably conformed to microbe) of French aérobie "living only in the presence of oxygen," from aéro-aero- + -bie (as in amphibieamphibious), borrowed from Greek -bios "having (such a) life," adjective derivative of bíos "life" — more at quick entry 1
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