microflora

[ mahy-kroh-flawr-uh, -flohr-uh ]

noun

, (used with a singular or plural verb)

, plural mi·cro·flo·ras, mi·cro·flo·rae [mahy-kroh-, flawr, -ee, -, flohr, -ee].

1. Biology. microscopic plants.
2. Ecology. the flora of a microhabitat.

microflora

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌflɔːrə /

noun

1. the community of microorganisms, including algae, fungi, and bacteria that live in or on another living organism or in a particular habitat

Other Words From

• micro·floral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of microflora¹

First recorded in 1900–05; micro- + flora

Example Sentences

The researchers analyzed the matter produced from bacterial metabolism and the DNA of the skin microflora and found an increased presence of odor-causing precursors in those 11 samples along with a proliferation of Staphylococcus hominis bacteria.

From Science Daily

Some winemakers choose to eschew the addition of commercial yeast, relying on the native microflora in and on the grapes to do the job.

From Salon

The results were compelling, demonstrating the strains' effectiveness in reducing body fat and rectifying the imbalances in intestinal microflora induced by obesity.

From Science Daily

The soil became very carbon rich and supported a rich flora and a rich microflora.

From Salon

The goal is to develop an oral treatment for calves that, once administered, will continue repopulating their rumen with the genetically modified microflora.

From Scientific American