Inflected forms: pl. ba·cil·li (-sl) 1. Any of various rod-shaped, spore-forming, aerobic bacteria of the genus Bacillus that often occur in chains and include B. anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. 2. Any of various bacteria, especially a rod-shaped bacterium.
ETYMOLOGY:
Late Latin, diminutive of Latin baculum, rod. See bak- in Appendix I.
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