microbial

noun

1. a microorganism, especially a pathogenic bacterium.

noun

1. any microscopic organism, esp a disease-causing bacterium

adj.1879, from Modern Latin microbion (see microbe) + -al (1). n.popular name for a bacterium, 1878, from French microbe, “badly coined … by Sédillot” [Weekley] in 1878 from Greek mikros “small” (see mica) + bios “life” (see bio-). It is an incorrect use of bios; in Greek the word would mean literally “short-lived.” n.

1. A microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease; a minute life form. No longer in technical use.

1. A microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease. See Note at germ.