bacillus

/bəˈsɪləs/

Other forms: bacilli

Definitions of bacillus

1. noun

   aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
   synonyms: B

   types:

   Bacillus anthracis, anthrax bacillus

   a species of bacillus that causes anthrax in humans and in animals (cattle and swine and sheep and rabbits and mice and guinea pigs); can be used a bioweapon

   Bacillus globigii, Bacillus subtilis, grass bacillus, hay bacillus

   a species of bacillus found in soil and decomposing organic matter; some strains produce antibiotics

   Yersinia pestis

   a bacillus bacterium that causes the plague; aerosolized bacteria can be used as a bioweapon

   type of:

   eubacteria, eubacterium, true bacteria

   a large group of bacteria having rigid cell walls; motile types have flagella