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A hint of the Greek word bios, meaning "life", can be seen in microbe. Microbes, or microorganisms, include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds. Many people think of microbes as simply the causes of disease, but every human is actually the host to billions of microbes, and most of them are essential to our life. Much research is now going into possible microbial sources of future energy; algae looks particularly promising, as do certain newly discovered or created microbes that can produce cellulose, to be turned into ethanol and other biofuels.
Examples of microbe in a Sentence
Raven Brunner, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
But over time, the microbes responsible for these infections have evolved to evade the very drugs designed to eliminate them.
—Nneka Vivian Iduu, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2025
It was long thought that only simple microbes had mastered a chemical conversion reaction that helps create some of the essential building blocks of life.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025
Throughout his career, his research has linked microbes to health conditions including obesity, examined them in different environments and made sequencing techniques accessible.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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microbe
noun
Medical Definition
microbe
noun
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