microbe

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Any microorganism; (loosely, nonscientifically) especially, a harmful bacterium.

   We humans and other complex animals are full of microbes, gajillions of them. People have so many that microbe cells living in our bodies outnumber our own vastly.

2. 2
   noun

   a minute life form (especially a disease-causing bacterium)

Etymology

From French microbe, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) and βίος (bíos, “life”). By surface analysis, micro- + -obe.