microbe
gb/mˈaɪkɹˌoʊb/ us/mˈaɪkɹˌoʊb/
B2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Nom
B2
entity
1
Tiny living organism
A very small living thing that you need a microscope to see, like bacteria.
Schéma d’usage :
a microbe; microbes; [microbe] in/on [place]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners often confuse microbe with germ: microbe is broader/neutral, while germ often suggests disease.
Synonymes
microorganism (More formal and scientific; includes a wide range of tiny life forms.)
|
germ (More everyday; often implies something that causes illness.)
Antonymes
sterility (The state of having no microbes present.)
Collocations
harmful microbes
|beneficial microbes
|disease-causing microbes
|gut microbes
|soil microbes
|waterborne microbes
|microbe growth
|microbe population
|kill microbes
|spread of microbes
Thèmes
health
|science
|biology
Exemples
- Some microbes help your body digest food.
- The lab tested the water for microbes after the flood.
- Alcohol-based hand gel can reduce the number of microbes on your skin.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The doctor said a microbe caused the infection.
- Some microbes are good for us.
Nom
literary
C1
abstract
2
Source of harmful influence
A small start of something bad that can grow and spread.
Schéma d’usage :
the microbe of [something]
Erreur fréquente :
This figurative use is much less common than the biological meaning and sounds literary in everyday conversation.
Synonymes
seed (Common figurative word for a small beginning that can grow.)
|
germ (Figurative and somewhat old-fashioned; means an early cause or beginning.)
Antonymes
remedy (Something that removes or counteracts a problem rather than starting it.)
Collocations
the microbe of hatred
|the microbe of suspicion
|the microbe of doubt
|a microbe of jealousy
Thèmes
society
|emotions
Exemples
- A microbe of doubt had entered his mind.
- The speech planted the microbe of suspicion in the community.
- They tried to stamp out the microbe of hatred before it spread.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
microbe
API
GB/mˈaɪkɹˌoʊb/
US/mˈaɪkɹˌoʊb/
Syllabes et accentuation
mi - crobe (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (mi)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: microbe
- Plural: microbes
Famille de mots
Forms
microbes
noun
Core family
microbial
adjective
microorganism
noun C1
Related words
microbiology
noun
microbiologist
noun
microbiological
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
antimicrobial
adjective
Advanced or less common
microbiome
noun
Expressions
disease-causing microbe
1/dɪzˈiz kˈɔzɪŋ mˈaɪkɹˌoʊb/
fixed phrase
Microbe that causes disease
A microbe that makes you sick.
Exemples
- The doctor suspected a disease-causing microbe in the contaminated food.
- Clean water supplies reduce exposure to disease-causing microbes.
- Vaccines help the body fight disease-causing microbes.
drug-resistant microbe
1/dɹˈʌɡ ɹɪzˈɪstənt mˈaɪkɹˌoʊb/
fixed phrase
Microbe not killed by medicines
A microbe that medicine cannot kill easily.
Exemples
- Hospitals take extra precautions to prevent the spread of drug-resistant microbes.
- Overuse of antibiotics can help create drug-resistant microbes.
- The patient was treated in isolation because of a drug-resistant microbe.
gut microbes
1/ɡˈʌt mˈaɪkɹˌoʊbz/
fixed phrase
Microbes living in the intestines
Microbes that live inside your stomach and intestines.
Exemples
- Eating more fiber can support healthy gut microbes.
- Antibiotics may disrupt gut microbes for a while.
- Researchers are studying how gut microbes influence mood.
microbe-free
1/mˈaɪkɹˌoʊb fɹˈi/
fixed phrase
Having no microbes present
With no microbes on it.
Exemples
- The tools must be microbe-free before surgery.
- No kitchen is truly microbe-free, but good cleaning reduces risk.
- The company claims its wipes leave surfaces microbe-free.