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Glite Dictionary
probiotic bacterium

probiotic bacterium

3.6
A helpful bacterium that lives in the gut and helps digestion
  • noun
  • /ˌproʊbaɪˈɑtɪk ˈbæktɪriəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bacteria probiótica
  • Consuming foods rich in probiotic bacteria can improve gut health and promote digestion.

Examples

  • The two key probiotic bacteria that are thought to be important in IBS are Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, and there have been a number of clinical trials using both single and multiple strains of these and other bacteria.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Many people take supplements that contain beneficial probiotic bacteria to support their digestive system.

  • Yogurt is often praised for its high content of probiotic bacteria, which can aid in maintaining a healthy gut.

Synonyms

acidophilus
vsprobiotic bacterium
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A good bacterium added to yogurt and supplements to help digestion

is a bacterium that naturally lives in the digestive tract promoting healthy function
probiotic
vsprobiotic bacterium
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A small living thing that helps your health in the gut

is a beneficial bacterium living in the digestive tract promoting gut health
Lactobacillus
vsprobiotic bacterium
  • Specialized
1 5.8

Small bacteria that turn sugar into acid and help make yogurt and cheese

is one beneficial bacterium focusing on gut health rather than fermentation role
Lactobacillus acidophilus
vsprobiotic bacterium
  • Specialized
4.1

A helpful kind of bacteria that lives in the gut and is in yogurt and probiotic supplements

is a general beneficial bacterium type rather than a single species
Bifidobacterium
vsprobiotic bacterium
  • Specialized
6.8

A group of friendly bacteria found in the intestines and used in probiotics

is a single beneficial bacterium rather than a whole genus

Antonyms

pathogenic
  • Specialized
5 7.0

Able to cause disease in people, animals or plants

How Beneficial

probiotic bacterium
  • Specialized
3.6
commensal
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Surface Forms

probiotic bacterium singular
probiotic bacteria plural

Morphology

probiotic + bacteria

The meaning 'a beneficial bacterium that promotes gut health' is directly and compositionally derived from combining 'probiotic' (beneficial microorganism) with 'bacterium' (a single-celled organism). This adjective + noun pattern is a standard, cross-linguistically common construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Probiotic bacterium comes from old Greek words: pro- meaning 'for', biotic meaning 'life', and bacterium meaning a 'small rod' or tiny living cell. So it literally says a tiny living thing 'for' life, which is why the term means a small, helpful microbe that lives in the gut and helps digestion.