nitrous bacterium
- noun
- /ˈnaɪtrəs ˈbæktɪriəm/
- Specialized
:
bacteria nitrosa
- The nitrous bacterium converts ammonia in the soil into nitrites as part of the nitrogen cycle.
Examples
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Farmers rely on the action of nitrous bacterium to improve soil fertility for crop growth.
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Under laboratory conditions, colonies of nitrous bacterium were observed multiplying rapidly.
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The nitrous bacterium is essential for soil health.
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Many nitrous bacteria thrive in anaerobic environments.
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Farmers rely on the action of nitrous bacterium to improve soil fertility for crop growth.
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The nitrous bacterium converts ammonia in the soil into nitrites as part of the nitrogen cycle.
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The presence of nitrous bacterium in the soil contributes significantly to the nitrogen cycle.
Synonyms
Soil bacteria that change ammonia into nitrite to help make nutrients for plants
A tiny living thing that turns ammonia into nitrite in soil or water
Small soil bacteria that change ammonia into nitrites
Soil bacteria that change ammonia into nitrites during the nitrogen cycle
A family of long, thin bacteria that turn ammonia or nitrite into nitrate and help the nitrogen cycle in soil
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'nitrous bacterium' transparently indicates a bacterium related to nitrogen (nitrous) when the learner knows both constituents, so a B1 learner can infer a general nitrogen-related microorganism. However, the precise technical function given in the definition (oxidizing ammonia into nitrites) is specialized biomedical knowledge not predictable from the words alone, so the phrase is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Nitrous bacterium gets its name from the job it does: nitrous points to 'nitrites' and bacterium means a tiny living organism. It changes 'ammonia' into 'nitrites', so the name tells you its job.
