Definition of microorganism
: an organism (such as a bacterium or protozoan) of microscopic or ultramicroscopic size
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Recent Examples of microorganism from the Web
-
Rosshart had joined the lab of NIDDKD immunologist Barbara Rehermann in 2013, and the two began poring over the literature on the microbiome, the collection of microorganisms that live on and in a larger organism.
-
Soil contains beneficial microorganisms, insects and earthworms.
-
This allowed him to accidentally discover microorganisms like bacteria and protists, beginning in the 1670s.
-
What are acceptable limits for pesticides, heavy metals, moisture content (indicative of microorganisms) and residual solvents?
-
Washing your hands regularly—especially before eating or touching your eyes, nose or mouth—is probably the best way to keep illness-causing microorganisms from getting into your body.
-
But lichens or microorganisms seemed, if anything, more likely than not.
-
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.
-
Recent studies have been made looking at food and the gut microbiome—the trillions of microbes that reside in the GI tract and influence health by helping digest food, making vitamins, and providing protection against disease-causing microorganisms.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'microorganism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of microorganism
International Scientific Vocabulary
MICROORGANISM Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of microorganism for English Language Learners
-
biology : an extremely small living thing that can only be seen with a microscope
MICROORGANISM Defined for Kids
Definition of microorganism for Students
: a living thing (as a bacterium) that can only be seen with a microscope
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about microorganism
-
Spanish Central: Translation of microorganism Nglish: Translation of microorganism for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about microorganism
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up microorganism? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
