bacillus(n = noun.animal) b - aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil;
is a kind of eubacteria, eubacterium, true bacteria
is a member of genus bacillus
has particulars: anthrax bacillus, bacillus anthracis, bacillus globigii, bacillus subtilis, grass bacillus, hay bacillus, yersinia pestis
Derived forms adjective bacillary2, adjective bacillary1
A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism. [1913 Webster]
bacillus, n. (pl. bacilli)
1 any rod-shaped bacterium.
2 (usu. in pl.) any pathogenic bacterium.
Etymology:
LL, dimin. of L baculus stick
anthrax bacillus, bacillus anthracis, bacillus globigii, bacillus subtilis, comma bacillus, gartner's bacillus, genus bacillus, grass bacillus, hay bacillus, klebs-loeffler bacillus, leprosy bacillus, shiga bacillus, tubercle bacillus, typhoid bacillus