n 1  cap  :  a genus of aerobic ellipsoidal to rod-shaped bacteria (family Pseudomonadaceae) that grow in the presence of alcohol, secure energy by oxidizing organic compounds to organic acids (as alcohol to acetic acid), and are important esp. in the production of vinegar  2  :  a bacterium of the genus Acetobacter .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  azo·to·bac·ter 
 
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