microbe
Invisible life form
A microbe is a microscopic organism—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other life forms too small to see without magnification.
The term appears in both scientific and everyday contexts: antibacterial soap kills microbes, gut microbes aid digestion.
Microbe carries less clinical weight than microorganism, making it the common choice in general speech.
Single-celled prokaryotic life
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- protozoanUnicellular eukaryotic life form
- archaeaThird domain of life
amoeba · paramecium · yeast · algae · plankton · mold · mildew · prokaryote
Collective social practices
- agarAlgae-derived gelling substance
- petriLaboratory dish name
- microscopeInstrument for viewing minute objects
- slideSmooth continuous movement
stain · incubator · colony · inoculation · streak · centrifuge · pipette · sterile
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
outbreak · plague · transmission · incubation · immunity · vaccination · virulence · contamination
Ground matter for planting
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
nutrient · cycle · fermentation · nitrogen-fixing · compost · decay · detritus · biodegradation
Healthful live microorganism supplement
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- yogurtFermented milk product
- cheeseFermented milk solid
- kimchiFermented Korean vegetables
kefir · sauerkraut · tempeh · miso · kombucha · gut · lactobacillus · digestion
Cannot be seen
- unseenNot perceived visually
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- infinitesimalQuantity approaching zero
- nanoscopicAt billionth-of-meter scale
single-celled · unicellular · tiny · imperceptible · submicroscopic
bacterium
Single-celled prokaryotic life
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- protozoanUnicellular eukaryotic life form
archaea · amoeba · paramecium · yeast · algae · plankton · mold · mildew · prokaryote · eukaryote
culture
Collective social practices
- agarAlgae-derived gelling substance
- petriLaboratory dish name
- microscopeInstrument for viewing minute objects
slide · stain · incubator · colony · inoculation · streak · centrifuge · pipette · sterile · swab
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
pandemic · outbreak · plague · transmission · incubation · immunity · vaccination · virulence · contamination · sepsis
soil
Ground matter for planting
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
ecosystem · nutrient · cycle · fermentation · nitrogen-fixing · compost · decay · detritus · biodegradation · chemosynthesis
probiotic
Healthful live microorganism supplement
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- yogurtFermented milk product
- cheeseFermented milk solid
kimchi · kefir · sauerkraut · tempeh · miso · kombucha · gut · lactobacillus · digestion · flora
invisible
Cannot be seen
- unseenNot perceived visually
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- infinitesimalQuantity approaching zero
nanoscopic · single-celled · unicellular · tiny · imperceptible · submicroscopic
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- microorganismsamoeba, paramecium, amoebae, euglena, amoebas
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
- Contaminantspollutants, pollutant, heavy metals, toxin, pesticides
- Germsvirus, bacillus, pathogen, bacteria, fungus
- microbial lifeOrganisms invisible to naked eye
- microscopic creatures
- microscopic poresMinuscule surface openings
- beneficial microbes
- gut microbiomeMicrobial community in digestive tract
- microscopic organismsLife invisible to naked eyes
microscopic, microbes, microorganism, microorganisms, microbial, microbiology, antimicrobial, microbiologist, microbiome