Definition

Noun: - A large family of Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria belonging to the order Eubacteriales. This family includes many genera that are significant in medicine, industry, and the environment, such as Escherichia, Salmonella, and Klebsiella.

Usage

• The term is used in scientific, medical, and microbiological contexts to classify and discuss a specific taxonomic group of bacteria.
• It is typically used as a singular proper noun (the family Enterobacteriaceae).

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Enterobacteriaceae" is often discussed in the context of clinical diagnostics, public health, and bacterial phylogeny.
• In medical reports, it may be abbreviated informally as "enterics" or "enteric bacteria," though these terms can be broader.

Variants and Related Words

• Enterobacterial (adj): Pertaining to the Enterobacteriaceae.
  • The study focused on enterobacterial pathogenesis.
• Enterobacterium (n, singular): A single bacterium belonging to this family.
  • The isolated enterobacterium was identified as E. coli.

Synonyms

• Enteric bacteria: A common synonym, especially in clinical settings, though it can sometimes include bacteria outside this formal family.
• Coliforms: Refers to a subset of Enterobacteriaceae used as indicators of sanitary quality in water, though not all family members are coliforms.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term has a single, specific taxonomic meaning in biology. It does not have general or idiomatic meanings outside this scientific context.

Noun

1. a large family of Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria of the order Eubacteriales