Escherichia Coli Definition & Meaning

American

Etymology

Examples

Escherichia coli American [esh-uh-rik-ee-uh koh-lahy] / ˌɛʃ əˈrɪk i ə ˈkoʊ laɪ /

noun

Bacteriology.

1. E. coli.

Etymology

Origin of Escherichia coli

From New Latin; named after Theodor Escherich (died 1911), German physician + coli, genitive singular of Latin colon “large intestine,” used as a specific epithet for Escherichia; -ia colon 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To test their hypothesis, the researchers built large-scale computer models of Escherichia coli bacteria.

From Science Daily

The microbe used by Stephen Wallace, professor of chemical biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, was Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli.

From BBC

Water quality samples collected near the Camp Richardson Resort revealed elevated levels of Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Escherichia coli is a common bacterium which is often harmless but can cause serious infections.

From Science Daily

Some bacteria, like Escherichia coli, are becoming increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics and developing into what are known as "superbugs."

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.