enterobacterium

noun

en·​tero·​bac·​te·​ri·​um ˌen-tə-rō-bak-ˈtir-ē-əm 

: any of a family (Enterobacteriaceae) of gram-negative straight rod bacteria (such as a salmonella, a shigella, or E. coli) that ferment glucose and include saprophytes as well as some serious plant and animal pathogens

enterobacterial

ˌen-tə-rō-bak-ˈtir-ē-əl 

adjective

Illustration of enterobacterium

• 1 E. coli
• 2 shigella

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

enterobacterium

noun

en·​tero·​bac·​te·​ri·​um -bak-ˈtir-ē-əm 

plural enterobacteria

-ē-ə

: any bacterium of the family Enterobacteriaceae

enterobacterial

-ē-əl 

adjective