n, pl  -ria   :  any of a group (as kingdom Procaryotae or kingdom Monera or the former class Schizomycetes) of prokaryotic unicellular round, spiral, or rod-shaped single-celled microorganisms that are often aggregated into colonies or motile by means of flagella, that live in soil, water, organic matter, or the bodies of plants and animals, and that are autotrophic, saprophytic, or parasitic in nutrition and important because of their biochemical effects and pathogenicity .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  bac·ter·emia  Bac·trim 
 
Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.  © 1997-2024.