SINCE 1828
biofilm
noun
bio·film
| \ ˌbi-(ˌ)ō-ˈfilm
\
\
Definition of biofilm
: a thin usually resistant layer of microorganisms (such as bacteria) that form on and coat various surfaces
Examples of biofilm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The treatment worked in culture dishes and when the bacteria were given the chance to form a biofilm, a dense, three-dimensional mesh that can protect bacteria from drugs. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Using a virus to kill what antibiotics can’t," 18 July 2018 These slimy biofilms typically have to be scrubbed off. — NBC News, "Hard-to-kill germs may be lurking in your hotel pool, CDC says," 17 May 2018 To really break up the biofilms in a home, Tierno recommends scrubbing surfaces with a metal brush, soap, and water, and a 10 percent bleach solution when it's really needed. — Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, "What to Know About the Germs in Your Home," 3 Apr. 2018 And bacteria can grow into mats called biofilms, which then resist the effects of chlorine and other disinfectants. — NBC News, "Hard-to-kill germs may be lurking in your hotel pool, CDC says," 17 May 2018 In the bathroom, for instance, water that comes into contact with a hard surface can create what's called a biofilm, a slimy film of microorganisms. — Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic, "What to Know About the Germs in Your Home," 3 Apr. 2018 One of her colleagues, Cynthia Sears, recently received a grant to study biofilms—the colonies of bacteria that grow in the colon and can either promote or prevent cancer growth. — Greg Kahn, Smithsonian, "Could Immunotherapy Lead the Way to Fighting Cancer?," 22 Mar. 2018 They are called stromatolites, a microbial mat formed in shallow water by trapping and binding sedimentary grain by biofilms. — Brian E. Clark, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A mastodon and a meteor older than Earth are highlights of the UW Geology Museum," 9 Mar. 2018 But the biofilms were made up of just two species of bacteria, B. fragilis and a strain of E. coli. — Gina Kolata, New York Times, "Gut Microbes Combine to Cause Colon Cancer, Study Suggests," 1 Feb. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biofilm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for biofilm
biofilm
noun
bio·film
| \ ˈbī-ō-ˌfilm
\
\
Medical Definition of biofilm
: a thin usually resistant layer of microorganisms (as bacteria) that form on and coat various surfaces (as of catheters or water pipes)
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