Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

halobacterium

noun
hal·​o·​bacterium | \-lə-\

Definition of halobacterium 

1 capitalized : a genus of halophilic rod or disk-shaped gram-negative aerobic primitive bacteria (family Halobacteriaceae) that live in strongly saline pools in red to orange colonies and that at low oxygen levels synthesize the purple-pigmented protein bacteriorhodopsin

2 : a bacterium of the genus Halobacterium

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for halobacterium

New Latin, from hal- + bacterium

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about halobacterium

Share halobacterium

Dictionary Entries near halobacterium

Halmstad

halo

halo-

halobacterium

Halobates

halobiont

halo blight

Statistics for halobacterium

Look-up Popularity

Comments on halobacterium

What made you want to look up halobacterium? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

noisome

noxious or harmful

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

A Thanksgiving Word Quiz

  • a-traditional-thanksgiving-dinner
  • November comes from a word for which of the following numbers?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games