microbiome

/ˌmaɪkroʊˈbaɪoʊm/

Other forms: microbiomes

A microbiome is a tiny community made up entirely of microorganisms. This includes things like bacteria and fungi, and you can't escape them — they're everywhere, including inside your body right now!

A biome is a specific environment with a specific climate, which contains particular kinds of animal and plant life. You can imagine a microbiome as a microscopic version of the same thing. It's essentially a tiny community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses all living together within a particular environment, such as the human gut.

Definitions of microbiome

1. noun

   a community or ecosystem of tiny organisms(such as bacteria) within a specific environment, such as the human body
2. noun

   the total genetic material of all tiny living organisms within a given habitat