Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Medical Dictionary

Serratia

noun Ser·ra·tia \ se-ˈrā-sh(ē-)ə \
See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

medical Definition of Serratia

: a genus of aerobic saprophytic flagellated rod-shaped bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that occur as rods, commonly produce a bright red pigment, and include one (S. marcescens) associated with some human opportunistic infections

Biographical Note for serratia

  • Serrati play \se-ˈrä-tē\, Serafino Italian boatman. The genus Serratia was so named in 1823 by Bartolomeo Bizio, a bacteriologist at the University of Padua, Italy, in honor of Serrati, who was engaged in operating a steamboat on the Arno River.

    • Seen and Heard

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

    show hide

    Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

    WORD OF THE DAY

    cathexis

    play

    investment of mental or emotional energy

    Get Word of the Day daily email!

    TRENDING NOW

    1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

    2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

    3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

    4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

    5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

    SEE ALL

    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

    image236659401
    Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

    When English borrows from another alphabet

    alt-5ada140ed3e28
    'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

    Why not both?

    alt-5ad8fc71357ed
    Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

    No, it's not a coiffure trend

    alt-5ad8d3361fb97
    Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

    You're on the edge of your seat

    Ask the Editors

    image1760257654
    2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

    How we chose 'feminism'

    video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
    Words of the Year: 1066

    Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

    video-literally
    Literally

    How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

    video-his-or-her
    Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

    The awkward case of 'his or her'

    Word Games

    image1926873504
    Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

    Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

    Take the quiz
    cats-on-impossible-timber
    More Confusing Words—Quiz

    How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

    Take the quiz
    How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
    How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

    Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

    Take the quiz
    SCRABBLE® Sprint
    SCRABBLE® Sprint

    SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

    Play the game