acid-fast

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Word: Acid-fast

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: "Acid-fast" describes certain microorganisms, especially some bacteria, that do not easily lose their color when treated with acidic solutions. This property is important in identifying specific types of bacteria, like the ones that cause tuberculosis.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "acid-fast" when discussing microbiology, particularly in relation to bacteria that are resistant to being decolorized by acid.
• It is often used in scientific contexts, especially in studies involving diseases like tuberculosis.

Example Sentence:

• "The laboratory test showed that the bacteria were acid-fast, indicating that they might be responsible for the patient's tuberculosis."

Advanced Usage:

In medical and scientific literature, "acid-fast" is often used in conjunction with other terms, such as "acid-fast bacilli" (AFB), which refers to the bacteria that retain their color during the acid-fast staining process.

Word Variants:

• Acid-fastness (noun): The quality of being acid-fast.
  • Example: "The acid-fastness of the bacteria made them difficult to treat."

Different Meanings:

• In a broader sense, "acid-fast" is specific to microbiology and does not have a general use outside of this field.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "acid-fast" in common usage, as it is a technical term. However, you might encounter terms like "resistant" or "stain-resistant" in a more general context.

Related Terms:

• Acid-fast staining: A laboratory technique used to identify acid-fast bacteria.
• Tubercle bacillus: The specific bacterium that causes tuberculosis, which is an example of an acid-fast organism.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "acid-fast," as it is a specialized term.

Summary:

"Acid-fast" is an important term in microbiology that helps scientists and healthcare professionals identify bacteria that are resistant to decolorization in acid environments.

Academic

Adjective

1. not easily decolorized by acid solutions; pertains to micro-organisms (especially the tubercle bacillus that causes tuberculosis)