bacterial

/bæk'tiəriəl/

Thân thiện

A doctor examines a bacterial culture under a microscope.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to bacteria: Describes something that is connected to or involves bacteria, which are microscopic single-celled organisms.
   • Caused by bacteria: Indicates that something is the result of an action or process performed by bacteria.

Usage

The adjective "bacterial" is used to modify nouns, specifying that the noun is associated with bacteria. It is commonly used in scientific, medical, and general contexts. - It typically precedes the noun it describes (e.g., bacterial cell, bacterial growth). - It can be used after linking verbs like "is" or "are" (e.g., The infection is bacterial).

Examples

• Before a noun:

  • The doctor prescribed antibiotics for the bacterial infection.
  • A bacterial cell has a different structure than a human cell.
  • They are studying bacterial resistance to drugs.

• After a linking verb:

  • The cause of the illness was confirmed to be bacterial.
  • Is this strain of pneumonia viral or bacterial?

Advanced Usage

• "Bacterial load": The number or quantity of bacteria present in a sample or environment.

  • The test measures the bacterial load in the water supply.

• "Bacterial flora": The community of bacteria that normally inhabit a particular part of the body, like the intestines.

  • Antibiotics can sometimes disrupt the healthy bacterial flora of the gut.

Variants and Related Words

• Bacterium (n, singular): A single microscopic organism. (Plural: bacteria).

  • A single bacterium can multiply rapidly.

• Bacteriology (n): The scientific study of bacteria.

  • She majored in bacteriology.

• Bactericidal (adj): Capable of killing bacteria.

  • Soap has a bactericidal effect.

Synonyms

• Microbial: Relating to microbes, which include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. (Note: "bacterial" is more specific).
• Bacteriological: Pertaining to the science of bacteriology. Often used interchangeably with "bacterial" in technical contexts.

Antonyms

• Viral: Caused by or relating to a virus.
• Aseptic: Free from contamination caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms.
• Sterile: Completely free from all living microorganisms, including bacteria.

Common Collocations and Phrases

• Bacterial contamination: The presence of unwanted bacteria.

  • The recall was due to possible bacterial contamination.

• Bacterial culture: A method of multiplying bacteria in a lab for study.

  • They grew the specimen in a bacterial culture.

• Bacterial pneumonia: A type of lung infection caused by bacteria.

  • He was hospitalized with bacterial pneumonia.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. relating to or caused by bacteria
   • bacterial infection