microbiology

[ mahy-kroh-bahy-ol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the branch of biology dealing with the structure, function, uses, and modes of existence of microscopic organisms.

microbiology

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌmaɪkrəʊbaɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of biology involving the study of microorganisms

microbiology

/ mī′krō-bī-ŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of microorganisms.

Derived Forms

• microbiological, adjective
• ˌmicroˌbioˈlogically, adverb
• ˌmicrobiˈologist, noun

Other Words From

• mi·cro·bi·o·log·i·cal [mahy-kroh-bahy-, uh, -, loj, -i-k, uh, l], micro·bio·logic adjective
• micro·bio·logi·cal·ly adverb
• micro·bi·olo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of microbiology¹

First recorded in 1885–90; micro- + biology

Example Sentences

Agricultural soils are in a terrible state because we have repeatedly ploughed and failed to rotate crops and rest land, to feed soil microbiology.

From Time

The government hadn’t used the first lockdown wisely, but December was its chance to set things right, says Gagandeep Kang, a professor of microbiology at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

From MIT Technology Review

Finney, originally from Delaware, graduated this May from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology.

From Time

Studies in non-medical areas of microbiology also recognized that microbes played important roles in ecosystems such as oceans, forests, or soils, according to Lita Proctor, program coordinator at the Human Microbiome Project.

From Nautilus

“It does challenge dogma that was previously held,” said Samantha Dando, a lecturer in clinical microbiology at the Queensland Institute of Technology in Australia.

From Quanta Magazine

Eric Alm, a professor of microbiology at MIT, has an idea: use the sewers.

From The Daily Beast

Go back to Adam and Eve, or wait for that thing to come out of the ocean, or do the microbiology thing.

From The Daily Beast

My book has all these detours into microbiology and the science of flavor because truly amazing things are going on when you cook.

From The Daily Beast

But other scientists counter that basic skills in microbiology and biotechnology can get you a bioweapon.

From The Daily Beast

For this reason the term pathogenic Microbiology has been introduced to include all these organisms.

From Project Gutenberg

The case is similar to that of the rotation of crops in its relation to scientific microbiology.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, I am assured that nothing exists which gives anything like so full a study of microbiology.

From Project Gutenberg