microbe
2 synonyms for microbe, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A microorganism, especially one that causes disease; a germ.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use microbe
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
harmful microbes
kill microbes
gut microbes
Etymology
Borrowed from French microbe, built from Greek mikros ("small") and bios ("life") — literally "tiny life."
Full origin of microbe →Frequently asked questions
What does “microbe” mean?
The word “microbe” means a microorganism, especially one that causes disease; a germ. In plain terms, a tiny living organism, usually a bacterium, too small to see without a microscope.
How do you pronounce “microbe”?
“Microbe” is pronounced MYK-rohb (/ˈmaɪkɹoʊb/ in IPA).
How do you use “microbe” in a sentence?
Here is “microbe” used in a sentence: “Washing your hands kills most microbes on the skin's surface.”
What part of speech is “microbe”?
“Microbe” is a noun.
Where does the word “microbe” come from?
The word “microbe” comes from French. Borrowed from French microbe, built from Greek mikros ("small") and bios ("life") — literally "tiny life.".
