archaebacteria

ar chae bac te ri a |ˌärkēˌbakˈti (ə )rēə ˌɑrkiˌbækˈtɪriə | ▶plural noun ( sing. archaebacterium |-ˈti (ə )rēəm | ) Biology microorganisms that are similar to bacteria in size and simplicity of structure but radically different in molecular organization. They are now believed to constitute an ancient intermediate group between the bacteria and eukaryotes. Also called archaea. DERIVATIVES ar chae bac te ri al adjective ORIGIN modern Latin (plural ), from Greek arkhaios ‘primitive. ’

archaebacteria

archaebacteria |ˌɑːkɪbakˈtɪərɪə | ▶plural noun ( sing. archaebacterium |ˌɑːkɪbakˈtɪərɪəm | ) another term for archaea. DERIVATIVES archaebacterial adjective