microorganism
noun
mi·cro·or·gan·ism
| \ ˌmī-krō-ˈȯr-gə-ˌni-zəm
\
\
Definition of microorganism
: an organism (such as a bacterium or protozoan) of microscopic or ultramicroscopic size
Examples of microorganism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The company’s protein product is made by altering sections of the DNA sequence of food-grade yeast such that the microorganisms, once fed with certain nutrients, produce several key proteins found in milk, including casein and whey. — Chase Purdy, Quartz, "The next big ice cream aisle addition will be dairy-free…kind of," 11 July 2019 Belly buttons contain a lot of folds that allow for the buildup of dead skin cells, sweat, and various microorganisms, Cynthia Bailey, M.D., a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care, tells SELF. — Korin Miller, SELF, "5 Belly Button Infections You Can Get (and What to Do If You Have One)," 23 Feb. 2019 The agency already had extensive experience with insulins as well as drugs derived from microorganisms, and the FDA viewed recombinant DNA techniques as an extension, or refinement, of these methods. — Henry I. Miller, WSJ, "Follow the FDA’s Self-Interest," 28 Oct. 2018 Sewage contains potentially dangerous microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria and other pathogen. — Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, "What's Inside This 2,000-Year-Old Mystery Sarcophagus?," 21 July 2018 In some cases, even washing one’s hands with tap water and failing to dry them properly can transmit the microorganism — which, says Haberman, is all the more reason to consider daily disposable lenses. — Katie Heaney, The Cut, "Are My Contacts Going to Make Me Go Blind?," 11 July 2018 Prebiotics feed good bacteria, while probiotic food sources actually contain beneficial microorganisms. — Lori Nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Chin Up: The body's second brain — the gut — and how to keep it healthy," 13 June 2018 If food thaws then refreezes, microorganisms that were there before the first freeze can multiply, posing a threat of food poisoning. — Natalie Dreier, ajc, "Storm evacuations: How coin, frozen cup of water could keep you from getting sick," 15 May 2018 This was when single-cell microorganisms, such as bacteria and protozoa, dominated the planet and possibly created a purple hue that could be seen from space. — Erin Gabriel, CNN, "The health benefits of a colorful life," 26 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'microorganism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for microorganism
microorganism
noun
English Language Learners Definition of microorganism
biology
: an extremely small living thing that can only be seen with a microscope
See the full definition for microorganism in the English Language Learners Dictionary
microorganism
noun
mi·cro·or·gan·ism
| \ ˌmī-krō-ˈȯr-gə-ˌni-zəm
\
\
Kids Definition of microorganism
: a living thing (as a bacterium) that can only be seen with a microscope
microorganism
noun
mi·cro·or·gan·ism
| \ -ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm
\
\
Medical Definition of microorganism
: an organism of microscopic or ultramicroscopic size
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