micro-organism

Thân thiện

A student observes a micro-organism under a microscope.

Definition

Noun: 1. A living organism of microscopic size: A micro-organism is any living entity that is too small to be seen clearly with the naked eye. It typically includes bacteria, archaea, many fungi (like yeasts and molds), protists (such as amoebas), and microscopic algae. Viruses are often studied alongside micro-organisms, though they are not always classified as living organisms.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • A single drop of pond water can contain thousands of different micro-organisms.
  • Yogurt is produced through the fermentation of milk by beneficial micro-organisms.
  • The scientist studied the micro-organism under a powerful microscope.

Advanced Usage

• "Pathogenic micro-organism": A micro-organism that can cause disease.
  • Strict hygiene protocols are essential to control pathogenic micro-organisms in a hospital.
• "Soil micro-organism": A micro-organism that lives in soil and is vital for nutrient cycling.
  • Healthy soil is teeming with micro-organisms that help plants grow.

Variants and Related Words

• Microbe (n): A common, often informal synonym for micro-organism, especially one that causes disease or fermentation.
  • The discovery that microbes cause disease revolutionized medicine.
• Microorganism (n): An alternative spelling without the hyphen.
• Microbial (adj): Relating to or caused by micro-organisms.
  • The lab specializes in microbial ecology.

Synonyms

• Germ: A very common term, often implying a micro-organism that causes disease.
• Bug: An informal term for a micro-organism, especially a bacterium or virus causing illness.

Related Phrases

• Microbial life: Life consisting of or involving micro-organisms.
  • The search for microbial life on Mars is a key goal of astrobiology.

Học thuật

Noun

1. any organism of microscopic size

Từ đồng nghĩa

• microorganism