spirilla

/'spairiləm/

Thân thiện

Spirilla can be observed moving in a water sample under a microscope.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of bacteria: "Spirilla" are a group of flagellated, aerobic bacteria characterized by their rigid, spiral (helically twisted) rod-like shape. They are typically found in aquatic environments.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Under the microscope, the scientist observed the distinctive spirilla moving in the water sample.
  • Some spirilla are known to cause diseases in humans.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Classification: The term "spirilla" is often used in microbiology to distinguish this morphological group (spiral-shaped bacteria) from others like cocci (spherical) or bacilli (rod-shaped).
  • The lab report identified the pathogen as belonging to the spirilla.

Variants and Related Words

• Spirillum (n): The singular form of "spirilla." It can also refer to a genus () within this bacterial group.
  • A single bacterium of this shape is a spirillum.

Synonyms

• Spiral bacteria: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the shape.
• Helical bacteria: A more technical term for bacteria with a helix-like form.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "spirilla" is the plural form. The singular is "spirillum."
• It specifically refers to bacteria with a rigid spiral structure, differentiating them from spirochetes, which have a flexible, corkscrew shape and move differently.

Học thuật

Noun

1. any flagellated aerobic bacteria having a spirally twisted rodlike form

Từ đồng nghĩa

• spirillum