English
Etymology
Gr. βακ�ή�ιον (bakterion) "small staff".
Pronunciation
IPA|/bæk��tɪɹi�m/
audio|en-us-bacterium.ogg|Audio (US)
Noun
wikipedia
bacterium (plural bacteria)
- a single celled organism with no nucleus or organelles
Usage notes
Bacterium is the singular form of the word. While the plural bacteria is often used as if it were the singular, this is nonstandard. See the examples below.
Standard usage
:Scientists have discovered a bacterium that infects cattle.
:There are millions of bacteria on every square inch of your skin.
Nonstandard usage
:* The common cold is caused by a virus, not a bacteria.
:* The bacteria in the wound causes infection.
Translations
Albanian: bakter
Arabic: ARchar|جرث��ة (jurθúma) f
Danish: bakterie
Dutch: bacterie f
Finnish: bakteeri
French: bactérie f
German: Bakterium n, Bakterie f
mid
Greek: βακÏ�ήÏ�ιο (vaktirÃo) n
Icelandic: bakterÃa f, gerill m
Italian: batterio m
Polish: bakteria f
Portuguese: bactéria f
Slovak: baktéria f
Spanish: bacteria f
Swedish: bakterie c
See also
bacillus
Category:English nouns with irregular plurals
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