Definition

Noun (Microbiology): A type of bacterial cell that is intermediate in shape between a spherical coccus and a rod-shaped bacillus; a very short, oval bacillus.

Usage

The term is used in microbiology to classify and describe bacteria based on their cellular morphology (shape). It is a specific scientific term.

Examples: * Under the microscope, the bacterium was identified as a coccobacillus. * Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, is a coccobacillus. * The lab report noted the presence of gram-negative coccobacilli in the sample.

Advanced Usage

• The plural form is coccobacilli.
• It is often used attributively (like an adjective) to modify other nouns, e.g., "a coccobacillus bacterium" or "coccobacillus forms."

Variants and Related Words

• Coccus (noun): A spherical bacterial cell.
• Bacillus (noun): A rod-shaped bacterial cell.
• Vibrio (noun): A comma-shaped bacterial cell.
• Spirillum (noun): A rigid, spiral-shaped bacterial cell.

Synonyms

• Short bacillus
• Oval bacterium (descriptive, not a formal taxonomic synonym)

Noun

1. a bacterial cell intermediate in morphology between a coccus and a bacillus; a very short bacillus