: an organism (such as a bacterium) that lives only in the presence of oxygen
Word History
Etymology
alteration (probably conformed to microbe) of French aérobie "living only in the presence of oxygen," from aéro- aero- + -bie (as in amphibie amphibious), borrowed from Greek -bios "having (such a) life," adjective derivative of bíos "life" — more at quick entry 1
First Known Use
1883, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
aerobe
noun
aer·obe ˈa(-ə)r-ˌōb, ˈe(-ə)r-
: an organism (as a bacterium) that lives only in the presence of oxygen