Gram's method
- noun
- /ɡræmz ˈmɛθəd/
- Specialized
:
método de Gram
- After performing Gram's method, the cells appeared purple, indicating they were Gram-positive.
Examples
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The microbiologist used Gram's method to quickly differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
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Understanding Gram's method is essential for anyone studying clinical microbiology.
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The lab technician used Gram's method to identify the bacteria.
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Can you explain Gram's method to me?
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After performing Gram's method, the cells appeared purple, indicating they were Gram-positive.
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The microbiologist used Gram's method to quickly differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
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Understanding Gram's method is essential for anyone studying clinical microbiology.
Synonyms
1
5.1
A lab test that uses dyes and a microscope to show if bacteria keep a purple colour
1
4.8
A lab method that uses dye to show whether bacteria keep or lose the dye
A lab method to tell types of bacteria by staining them to see if they keep a purple dye
A lab method that stains bacteria to show if they have thick or thin cell walls
Surface Forms
Morphology
Gram's + method
Although 'method' clearly indicates a procedure and the possessive 'Gram's' signals association with a person named Gram, the specific meaning—a microbiological staining technique for classifying bacteria—is specialized and not derivable from the parts. Because 'Gram' is a proper name (and could be confused with the unit 'gram') and the technical sense requires domain knowledge, a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Gram's method is named after Hans Christian Gram, a scientist who used a purple dye to color bacteria and saw that some kept the color and others did not. That's why scientists call those that keep the dye 'Gram-positive' and those that do not 'Gram-negative', and why the method sorts bacteria by how they hold the color.