tubercle bacillus

noun

: a bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that is a major cause of tuberculosis

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tubercle bacillus was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near tubercle bacillus

tubercle

tubercle bacillus

tubercled

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Cite this Entry

“Tubercle bacillus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tubercle%20bacillus. Accessed 31 Jan. 2023.

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Medical Definition

tubercle bacillus

noun
: a bacterium of the genus Mycobacterium (M. tuberculosis) that causes tuberculosis in humans
also : a related mycobacterium (M. bovis) that causes tuberculosis in cattle and sometimes humans especially in underdeveloped countries

More from Merriam-Webster on tubercle bacillus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tubercle bacillus

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