cytophaga

noun

cy·​toph·​a·​ga

sīˈtäfəgə

1

capitalized : a genus of long flexuous pointed bacteria (order Myxobacterales) showing creeping motility, forming neither fruiting bodies nor microcysts, and being saprophytes of soil and water that vigorously hydrolyze cellulose and aid in the breakdown of plant remains

2

plural -s : any bacterium of the genus Cytophaga

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from cyt- + -phaga

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