bacteriolysis

[ bak-teer-ee-ol-uh-sis ]

noun

1. disintegration or dissolution of bacteria.

bacteriolysis

/ bækˌtɪərɪəˈlɪtɪk; bækˌtɪərɪˈɒlɪsɪs /

noun

1. the destruction or disintegration of bacteria

Derived Forms

• bacteriolytic, adjective

Other Words From

• bac·te·ri·o·lyt·ic [bak-teer-ee-, uh, -, lit, -ik], noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bacteriolysis¹

First recorded in 1890–95; bacterio- + -lysis

Example Sentences

It can be shown that in many cases when bacteria are injected the serum of the treated animal has no bacteriolytic effect, and still an immune body is present, which leads to the fixation of complement; in this case bacteriolysis does not occur, because the organism is not susceptible to the action of the complement.

From Project Gutenberg