mycobacteria

[ mahy-koh-bak-teer-ee-uh ]

plural noun

, Bacteriology.

, singular my·co·bac·te·ri·um [mahy-koh-bak-, teer, -ee-, uh, m].

1. rod-shaped aerobic bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium, certain species of which, as M. tuberculosis, are pathogenic for humans and animals.

Other Words From

• my·co·bac·te·ri·al noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mycobacteria¹

First recorded in 1905–10; from New Latin, a genus name; myco-, bacteria