n pl :  a large family of rod-shaped or spherical gram-negative bacteria that are usu. nonmotile and require little or no oxygen, that do not form spores, that require carbohydrates for growth and ferment them chiefly to lactic acid, and that include the lactic acid bacteria - see LACTOBACILLUS  .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  lac·to·ba·cil·lus 
 
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