nitrosobacterium

noun

ni·​tro·​so·​bac·​te·​ri·​um nī-¦trō-(ˌ)sō-bak-¦tir-ē-əm 

plural nitrosobacteria nī-¦trō-(ˌ)sō-bak-¦tir-ē-ə 

: a nitrifying bacterium that oxidizes ammonia to nitrites

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from nitrosus nitrous + -o- + bacteria

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