germs
Invisible illness causes
Germs are microscopic organisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and the like—that can cause disease.
The word carries a strong connotation of contamination and illness, which is why people wash their hands to kill germs and why germ warfare sounds so menacing.
In a more neutral sense, germ refers to something in its earliest stage of development: the germ of an idea, or the wheat germ that contains the seed's embryo.
Low temperature state
- fluContagious respiratory illness
- stomach bugGastrointestinal viral infection
- food poisoningSickness from contaminated eating
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
sickness · disease · fever · cough · sneezing · runny nose · diarrhea · vomiting
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
protozoa · archaea · microorganisms · amoeba · paramecium · E. coli · salmonella · staphylococcus
Cleaning palms with soap
- soapFatty alkali cleanser
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- disinfectantAgent destroying surface pathogens
- antibacterialKills or inhibits germs
sterilization · cleanliness · sanitation · scrubbing · antiseptic · bleach · Lysol · Purell
Disease spread by contact
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- transmissionSending of information
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
pandemic · sepsis · fever · inflammation · pus · antibodies · immune response · incubation
Embryonic plant capsule
- kernelSeed or essential core
- sparkTiny fiery particle
- originStarting point or source
- inceptionFounding moment
beginning · embryo · nucleus · nascent · budding · potential · root · source
Pathogen deployed as armament
- anthraxSpore-forming bacterial disease
- bioterrorismWeaponized infectious agents
- weaponizedMade into a threat
- containmentPreventing hostile expansion
biological warfare · biohazard · hazmat · decontamination · CDC · outbreak · nerve agent · smallpox
cold
Low temperature state
- fluContagious respiratory illness
- stomach bugGastrointestinal viral infection
- food poisoningSickness from contaminated eating
infection · sickness · disease · fever · cough · sneezing · runny nose · diarrhea · vomiting · contagious
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
- pathogensDisease-causing microorganisms
fungi · protozoa · archaea · microorganisms · amoeba · paramecium · E. coli · salmonella · staphylococcus · streptococcus
handwashing
Cleaning palms with soap
- soapFatty alkali cleanser
- sanitizerAgent that reduces microbes
- disinfectantAgent destroying surface pathogens
antibacterial · sterilization · cleanliness · sanitation · scrubbing · antiseptic · bleach · Lysol · Purell · alcohol wipes
contagion
Disease spread by contact
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- transmissionSending of information
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
epidemic · pandemic · sepsis · fever · inflammation · pus · antibodies · immune response · incubation · carriers
seed
Embryonic plant capsule
inception · beginning · embryo · nucleus · nascent · budding · potential · root · source · starting point
bioweapon
Pathogen deployed as armament
- anthraxSpore-forming bacterial disease
- bioterrorismWeaponized infectious agents
- weaponizedMade into a threat
biological warfare · containment · biohazard · hazmat · decontamination · CDC · outbreak · nerve agent · smallpox · plague
- kids' healthhealthy habits, hygiene, nutrition, wellness, healthy eating
- coldscommon cold, cold virus, rhinovirus, head cold, chest cold
- fearsspiders, snakes, falling, heights, death
- filthdirt, grime, dirty, filthy, muck
- grossvomit, pus, poop, boogers, snot
- handwashinghandwashing, soap, lather, rinse, scrub
germsantibiotics
Bacteria-destroying medicines
probiotics · beneficial bacteria · antibodies · vaccines · immune cells
germssterility
Absence of microbes or fertility
cleanliness · purity · asepsis · sanitation · hygiene
germsfruition
Attainment of goals
maturity · culmination · realization · completion · end product
- germ theoryDisease caused by microorganisms
- spreading germs
- wheat germEmbryo of cereal grain
- germ warfareCombat using disease agents
- germination ratesPercentage of seeds sprouting
- kill germs
germ, germane, germinate, germination, germinating, germinal, germinated, germinates, germicidal