anaerobe

noun

an·​aer·​obe ˈa-nə-ˌrōb  (ˌ)an-ˈer-ˌōb 

: an anaerobic organism

Examples of anaerobe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The good bacteria are called lactobacilli; the harmful bacteria are anaerobes. — Dominique Fluker, Essence, 6 Oct. 2023

Eventually Stewart took over Bengtson’s work in anaerobes, organisms that survive without oxygen. — Leila McNeill, Smithsonian, 17 June 2019

Moeller and his colleagues noticed that obligate anaerobes, bacteria that can only survive in an oxygen-free environment, tended to pass from mouse mothers to their offspring but not between other mice through the environment. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 26 Oct. 2018

In its four hours in the colon, the pill recorded elevated levels of O2, which could mess up anaerobes. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 9 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

alteration (probably conformed to microbe) of French anaérobie "living without oxygen," from an- an-2 + aérobie "living only in the presence of oxygen" — more at aerobe

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anaerobe

• microprobe
• bathrobe
• earlobe
• microbe
• wardrobe
• globe
• jobe
• lobe
• probe
• robe
• strobe

Kids Definition

anaerobe

noun

an·​aer·​obe ˈan-ə-ˌrōb 

(ˈ)an-ˈa(-ə)r-ˌōb, 

-ˈe(-ə)r-

: an anaerobic organism

Medical Definition

anaerobe

noun

an·​aer·​obe ˈan-ə-ˌrōb; (ˈ)an-ˈa(-ə)r-ˌōb  -ˈe(-ə)r- 

: an anaerobic organism