bacterium

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bac·te·ri·um / bakˈti(ə)rēəm/ • n. (pl. -te·ri·a / -ˈti(ə)rēə/ ) a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms that have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.DERIVATIVES: bac·te·ri·al / -ˈti(ə)rēəl/ adj.ORIGIN: mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek baktērion, diminutive of baktēria ‘staff, cane’ (because the first ones to be discovered were rod-shaped). Compare with bacillus.

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