Bacterium

(b’ak-tef-re-um) [(3aK.Tijpiov, a little stick; dim. of flanTypia, a stick, staff: pi., Bacteria\ I. A unicellular vegetable microorganism. The word is a generic term and includes the groups bacillus, coccus, and spirillum. 2. Formerly, a genus of fungi characterized by inflexible linear filaments. 135