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A hint of the Greek word bios, meaning "life", can be seen in microbe. Microbes, or microorganisms, include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds. Many people think of microbes as simply the causes of disease, but every human is actually the host to billions of microbes, and most of them are essential to our life. Much research is now going into possible microbial sources of future energy; algae looks particularly promising, as do certain newly discovered or created microbes that can produce cellulose, to be turned into ethanol and other biofuels.
Examples of microbe in a Sentence
Kaitlin Vogel, Health, 11 Dec. 2025
In addition to their GI effects, these microbes can also benefit your health in other ways.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 10 Dec. 2025
Coffee grounds contain carbon, nitrogen, and trace minerals that feed soil microbes that promote good soil structure and improve drainage.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025
Using mice, human cell models, and molecular target-screening, the scientists found that when the nutrient choline hits the gut, microbes convert it into a metabolite called trimethylamine (TMA).
—New Atlas, 9 Dec. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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microbe
noun
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microbe
noun
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