any anaerobic typically rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Clostridium, occurring mainly in soil, but also in the intestines of humans and animals: family Bacillaceae. The genus includes the species causing botulism and tetanus
Derived forms
clostridial (closˈtridial) or clostridian (closˈtridian)
adjective
Word origin
C20: from New Latin, literally: small spindle, from Greek klōstēr spindle, from klōthein to spin; see -ium
clostridium in American English
(klɑsˈtrɪdiəm)
nounWord forms: pluralclosˈtridia (klɑsˈtrɪdiə)
any of a large genus (Clostridium) of spore-forming, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, many of which produce toxins, including those causing tetanus and botulism
Derived forms
clostridial (closˈtridial)
adjective
Word origin
ModL < Gr klōstēr, a spindle (see Clotho) + ModL -idium, dim. suffix < Gr -idion: so named from its shape