cyanobacterium

noun

cy·​a·​no·​bac·​te·​ri·​um ˌsī-ə-nō-bak-ˈtir-ē-əm How to pronounce cyanobacterium (audio)
sī-ˌa-nō-
: any of a major group (Cyanobacteria) of photosynthetic bacteria that are single-celled but often form colonies in the form of filaments, sheets, or spheres and are found in diverse environments (such as salt and fresh water, soils, and on rocks)

Note: Like other bacteria, cyanobacteria lack a nuclear membrane and membrane-bound organelles and have cell walls containing peptidoglycan. However, cyanobacteria were more commonly grouped with algae in the past because they possess a type of chlorophyll (chlorophyll a) not found in other bacteria and because they produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis.

called also blue-green alga

cyanobacterial adjective

Examples of cyanobacterium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nostoc commune, also referred to as star jelly, witch's butter and mare's eggs, is a species of cyanobacterium that grows in countries all over the world. Victoria Moorwood, USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2023 Here's what to know Gardening:How to prevent those pesky spring weeds in your lawn (or not) What is Nostoc commune, also known as star jelly? Nostoc commune, also referred to as star jelly, witch's butter and mare's eggs, is a species of cyanobacterium that grows in countries all over the world. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 12 Apr. 2023 Molecular geneticist Susan Golden of the University of California, San Diego, has helped to decode the molecular machinery regulating time in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus, and coauthored a description of the clock in the Annual Review of Genetics. Adam Mann, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2020 Nostoc azollae, a cyanobacterium species that lives inside Azolla leaves, captures nitrogen from the air and converts it into a form that the ferns — and rice plants — can use. Erika K Carlson, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2018 Evidence hinted that the Azolla fern and its cyanobacterium partner might share a long evolutionary past together. Erika K Carlson, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2018 From experiments with the fern’s genome, Li’s team found that the cyanobacterium’s ability to capture nitrogen from air keeps the fern nourished when other nitrogen sources aren’t available. Erika K Carlson, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2018 Dolastatin 10 is the potent chemical compound discovered from a marine cyanobacterium that inspired the main ADC cytotoxic warhead molecule. Brittany Edelmann, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2022 Lichens are actually two organisms working together: a fungus and either alga or cyanobacterium. Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Feb. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cyanobacterium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyanobacterium was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near cyanobacterium

Cite this Entry

“Cyanobacterium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyanobacterium. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cyanobacterium

noun
cy·​a·​no·​bac·​te·​ri·​um ˌsī-ə-nō-bak-ˈtir-ē-əm How to pronounce cyanobacterium (audio)
sī-ˌan-ō-

Medical Definition

cyanobacterium

noun
cy·​a·​no·​bac·​te·​ri·​um -bak-ˈtir-ē-əm How to pronounce cyanobacterium (audio)
plural cyanobacteria
-ē-ə
: any of a major group (Cyanobacteria) of photosynthetic bacteria that produce molecular oxygen and use water as an electron-donating substrate in photosynthesis

called also blue-green alga

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