Athiorhodaceae

plural noun

Athi·​o·​rho·​da·​ce·​ae

āˌthīəˌrōˈdāsēˌē

: a family of small motile sulfur bacteria having polar flagella and red to brown coloration due to various combinations of bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid pigments

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from a- entry 2 + thi- + rhod- + -aceae

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!