betabacterium \| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷\noun Etymology: New Latin, from Beta (III) + bacterium 1.capitalized: a genus or subgenus of heterofermentative lactobacilli 2.pluralbetabacteria: a member of the genus Betabacterium: a heterofermentative lactobacillus