microorganism
part of speech
noun (a microorganism, microorganisms)
meaning for a pupil
A living thing so tiny that you can only see it with a microscope, such as a bacterium, a virus (usually counted with them), some fungi like yeast, or algae. tree →
sense in the lessons
In science, microorganisms (microbes) can be helpful — making bread rise, yogurt, cheese and compost, and living in your gut — or harmful, causing illness and making food go off. Hygiene lessons explain washing hands to remove harmful microorganisms. Phrases: «harmful microorganisms», «useful microorganisms», «under a microscope», «germs».
examples
- Yeast is a microorganism that makes bread dough rise. tree →
- Some microorganisms cause food to go mouldy. tree →
- Washing your hands with soap removes many harmful microorganisms. tree →
- We looked at pond water and saw microorganisms swimming under the microscope. tree →
- Bacteria in yogurt are helpful microorganisms. tree →
- Microorganisms in the compost heap break down leaves and peel. tree →
- Fridges slow down the growth of microorganisms. tree →
note
Countable: a microorganism, microorganisms. Also spelled «micro-organism» (common in the UK). Everyday words: «microbe», «germ» (germ usually means a harmful one). Myth: not all microorganisms are bad — most are harmless or helpful. Viruses are often grouped with microorganisms although scientists argue whether they are truly alive.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «microorganism» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.