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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
Anahad O’Connor, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2026
Grass, microbes, and humans are a powerful trio of cooperators.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Andy Weir’s 2021 space saga follows a middle school teacher, Ryland Grace, forced to leave his classroom and join a last-ditch mission to save humanity from sun-eating microbes.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
For example, beneficial microbes might out-compete the crown gall bacteria on root surfaces.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
microbe
noun
Medical Definition
microbe
noun
