Nitrobactern.
/ˈnʌɪtrəʊˌbaktə/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtroʊˌbæktər/ Microbiology.
A genus of Gram-negative bacteria (family Nitrobacteraceae), whose members are found in soil and water and have the ability to oxidize nitrites to nitrates; (also nitrobacter) a bacterium of this genus. Cf. nitrobacterium n.
ΚΠ
1900 A. C. Jones tr. A. Fischer Struct. & Functions Bacteria xi. 106 The nitrate bacteria (Nitrobacter)..are minute non-motile rods.
1911 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 750/1 The oxidation of the nitrites into nitrates is effected by another organism, much smaller than the first. The name Nitrobacter has been given to this genus, most of our knowledge of which is due to the researches of Winogradsky.
1973 R. G. Krueger et al. Introd. Microbiol. iii. 51/1 There are two groups of genera in the family [sc. Nitrobacteraceae]. One group, typified by Nitrosomonas, accommodates bacteria that oxidize ammonia to nitrite. The other group accommodates bacteria that oxidize nitrite to nitrate; this group is typified by Nitrobacter.
1992 Pract. Fishkeeping Mar. 7/4 Ammonia oxidation..is conducted via the action of our ‘microbial army’ especially the bacteria nitrosomonas and nitrobacter.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1900