microbe

noun

mi·​crobe ˈmī-ˌkrōb How to pronounce microbe (audio)
microbial adjective
or less commonly microbic
microbially adverb

Did you know?

A hint of the Greek word bios, meaning "life", can be seen in microbe. Microbes, or microorganisms, include bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds. Many people think of microbes as simply the causes of disease, but every human is actually the host to billions of microbes, and most of them are essential to our life. Much research is now going into possible microbial sources of future energy; algae looks particularly promising, as do certain newly discovered or created microbes that can produce cellulose, to be turned into ethanol and other biofuels.

Examples of microbe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Gene Editing Research underway into gene editing – intentionally altering the genetic code of a living organism – may also have the potential to change the microbes that produce methane in livestock’s gut microbiomes. Paul Winters, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2024 The gas comes from decomposing trash in landfills, methane-emitting microbes in rice paddies, and infamously from livestock burping and pooping. Justine Calma, The Verge, 4 Mar. 2024 Imagine that mucus—thick, copious, dark—had been accumulating since the moment you were born, thwarting air and trapping microbes to fester inside your lungs. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 The microbes then form the base of the food web in hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, sustaining bigger creatures, including crabs, mussels, and soft-bodied polychaete worms like Pectinereis strickrotti. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024 Beyond releasing more nutrients for more trees and shrubs to grow—a sort of self-perpetuating feedback loop—permafrost is also releasing planet-warming gases, driving still more warming: The microbes feeding on that ancient plant material release carbon dioxide and methane as byproducts. Matt Simon, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 This wasn’t the first time a miracle microbe had been found at Yellowstone. Claire Turrell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Wetlands are also home to tiny microbes that feed on organic material and release methane, a type of potent greenhouse gas. Denise Chow, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024 The most common microbes used in probiotic supplements are Lactobacillus (L), Bifidobacterium (B), Saccharomyces (S), Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Bacillus. Shushy Rita Setrakian Ms, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'microbe.' 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

International Scientific Vocabulary micr- + Greek bios life — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microbe was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near microbe

Cite this Entry

“Microbe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microbe. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

microbe

noun
mi·​crobe ˈmī-ˌkrōb How to pronounce microbe (audio)
microbial adjective
also microbic

Medical Definition

microbe

noun
mi·​crobe ˈmī-ˌkrōb How to pronounce microbe (audio)
: microorganism, germ
used especially of pathogenic bacteria

More from Merriam-Webster on microbe

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