bacterization
|bac-te-ri-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌbæk.tə.rɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌbæk.tə.rɪˈzeɪ.ʃ(ə)n/
becoming colonized by bacteria
Etymology
'bacterization' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the New Latin word 'bacterium' (from Greek 'bakterion') combined with the suffix '-ization' (via French -isation), where 'bacterium' meant 'small staff/rod'.
'bacterization' changed from Greek 'bakterion' -> New Latin 'bacterium' -> English 'bacteria' and then received the Modern English suffix '-ization' to form 'bacterization'.
Initially, the root 'bakterion' meant 'small staff' (a rod); over time it came to denote microscopic rod-shaped organisms ('bacterium'), and the derived modern term 'bacterization' evolved to mean the process of bacterial colonization or contamination.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or state of being colonized, contaminated, or overgrown by bacteria; establishment of bacterial growth on a surface, device, or tissue.
The bacterization of the catheter led to a severe bloodstream infection.
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Noun 2
(Rare/technical) The deliberate introduction or inoculation of bacteria into a medium, environment, or sample for experimental or practical purposes.
Bacterization of the soil sample was performed to observe microbial interactions.
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Last updated: 2025/12/29 11:13