mesophilic

[ mez-uh-fil-ik, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh- ]

adjective

1. (of bacteria) growing best at moderate temperatures, between 25°C and 40°C.

mesophilic

/ ˌmɛsəʊˈfɪlɪk; ˈmɛsəʊˌfaɪl /

adjective

1. biology (esp of bacteria) having an ideal growth temperature of 20–45°C

Derived Forms

• mesophile, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mesophilic¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; meso- + -philic

Example Sentences

Powdered mesophilic cultures, sold in packets, are reasonably priced.

From Washington Post

As a bacteriologist, Dr. Arrhenius knew that there were three temperature types of bacteria, those living at low temperatures, the psychrophilic; those living at the temperatures of the human body giving us so much trouble, the mesophilic; those living at high temperatures near geysers, volcanoes etc., the thermophilic.

From Time Magazine Archive

The temperature 42° C. destroys ordinary water bacteria and inhibits the growth of many ordinary mesophilic bacteria.

From Project Gutenberg