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BrE BrE//bækˈtɪəriə//; NAmE NAmE//bækˈtɪriə//
[plural] (bacterium BrE BrE//bækˈtɪəriəm//; NAmE NAmE//bækˈtɪriəm//
)Check pronunciation: bacteria
the simplest and smallest forms of life. Bacteria exist in large numbers in air, water and soil, and also in living and dead creatures and plants, and are often a cause of disease. Neither chilling nor freezing kills all bacteria. Wordfinderdiseasebacteria, disease, epidemic, fever, illness, immunity, infection, spread, vaccinate, virus CollocationsThe living worldAnimals animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something) fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs) birds fly/migrate/nest/sing insects crawl/fly/bite/sting insects/bees/locusts swarm bees collect/gather nectar/pollen spiders spin/weave a web snakes/lizards shed their skins bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate insect larvae grow/develop/pupate an egg/a chick/a larva hatches attract/find/choose a mate produce/release eggs/sperm lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast mark/enter/defend (a) territory stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill preyPlants and fungi trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower a seed germinates/sprouts leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form flower buds swell/open a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores produce/bear fruit develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients perform/increase/reduce photosynthesisBacteria and viruses bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease bacteria break something down/convert something (into something) a virus enters/invades something/the body a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself) be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria contain/carry/harbour (especially US English) harbor bacteria/a virus kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivedangerous, harmful, beneficial, … verb + bacteriaattack, destroy, fight, … phrasesa strain of bacteria See full entry More Like This Easily-confused plural/singular forms bacteria/bacterium, criteria/criterion, data/datum, media/medium, phenomena/phenomenon, strata/stratumSee worksheet.
