proteus
noun (1)
pro·te·us
| \ ˈprō-tē-əs
\
\
plural protei\ ˈprō-tē-ˌī
\
\
Definition of proteus
(Entry 1 of 2)
: any of a genus (Proteus) of aerobic usually motile enterobacteria that include saprophytes in decaying organic matter and a common causative agent (P. mirabilis) of urinary tract infections
Proteus
noun (2)
Pro·teus
| \ ˈprō-ˌtyüs
, -tē-əs, -ˌtüs
\
, -tē-əs, -ˌtüs
\
Definition of Proteus (Entry 2 of 2)
: a Greek sea god capable of assuming different forms
Examples of proteus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
One of the creature’s other monikers, proteus, stems from an early Greek sea god who had the ability to change shape. — Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian, "Cave Dragons Exist—And Saving Them Could Be Key to Protecting Drinking Water," 22 June 2017 One of the creature’s other monikers, proteus, stems from an early Greek sea god who had the ability to change shape. — Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian, "Cave Dragons Exist—And Saving Them Could Be Key to Protecting Drinking Water," 22 June 2017 One of the creature’s other monikers, proteus, stems from an early Greek sea god who had the ability to change shape. — Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian, "Cave Dragons Exist—And Saving Them Could be Key to Protecting Drinking Water," 23 June 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proteus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for proteus
proteus
noun
pro·te·us
| \ ˈprōt-ē-əs
\
\
Medical Definition of proteus
1
capitalized
: a genus of aerobic gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that ferment glucose but not lactose and decompose urea, that are usually motile by means of peritrichous flagella, and that include saprophytes in decaying organic matter and a common causative agent (P. mirabilis) of urinary tract infections
2
plural protei\ -ˌī \
: any bacterium of the genus Proteus
\
: any bacterium of the genus Proteus