BACTERICIDAL Meaning and
Definition
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Bactericidal is an adjective that describes something capable of killing or destroying bacteria. It refers to the ability of a substance, treatment, or agent to eliminate bacteria by affecting their viability or preventing their growth and reproduction. Bactericidal agents are known to be effective in eradicating bacteria, particularly in situations where it is important to prevent the spread of infections or diseases.
When a substance or treatment is bactericidal, it directly targets and destroys the bacterial cells, inhibiting their ability to survive or multiply. This can be achieved by disrupting essential enzymes or cellular processes of the bacteria, leading to their death. Bactericidal agents are often used in medical settings, such as hospitals, to control and eliminate harmful bacteria that can potentially cause infections in patients.
It is important to differentiate bactericidal from another term, "bacteriostatic," which refers to substances or treatments that only inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria, without necessarily killing them. Bacteriostatic agents can slow down bacterial growth, allowing the immune system to intervene and eliminate the bacteria naturally.
Overall, the term "bactericidal" denotes the ability to kill bacteria directly, making it a crucial characteristic of substances or treatments employed in various medical and sanitary contexts to combat bacterial infections and maintain a hygienic environment.
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Causing the death of bacteria.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BACTERICIDAL
Etymology of BACTERICIDAL
The word "bactericidal" is derived from the combination of two components: "bacteri" and "cidal".
1. "Bacteri" is derived from the Greek word "baktēria", which means "rod" or "staff". It was first used by German pathologist Ferdinand Cohn in 1872 to describe microscopic, rod-shaped organisms.
2. The second component, "-cidal", comes from the Latin word "caedere", meaning "to kill" or "to cut down". "-Cidal" is used as a suffix in various scientific terms to indicate "killing" or "destruction" of a particular object or organism.
Therefore, "bactericidal" combines the Greek term for bacteria (bacteri) with the Latin suffix -cidal to form a word meaning "capable of killing or destroying bacteria".
Similar spelling words for BACTERICIDAL
- bacterially,
- bacteriemia,
- bactericidally,
- bacteriaemia,
- bastardized,
- bacteriophagic,
- bacteroidal,
- bacterize,
- bacterise,
- bacteria order,
- bactericide,
- bacteria bed,
- bacteriologist,
- bacteroides,
- bacteriostat,
- bacterial,
- bacterioidal,
- bacteriostatic,
- bacteroid,
- bacteriocidal,
- bacteria family,
- bacteriolytic,
- bacteroidaceae,
- bastardised,
- bacterium,
- bacteriacide,
- bacteriology,
- bacteremia,
- bacteriolysis,
- bacteriological,
- bacteriologic,
- bacteremic,
- bacterial toxin,
- bacterioid.
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