微生物
解説 Definition
microorganisms は microorganism（微生物）の複数形です。細菌や酵母など、肉眼では見えにくい非常に小さな生物をまとめて指します。
Microorganisms are extremely small living things, including many bacteria, yeasts, and microscopic fungi, that usually cannot be seen clearly without magnification. They occur in environments such as soil, water, food, and living bodies.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
microorganism「微生物」に規則的な複数語尾 -s を付けた形で、単数に戻すと microorganism です。micro-「小さい」＋ organism「生物」と分解し、some microorganisms や microorganisms in soil のように、顕微鏡で観察する多数の小さな生物を思い浮かべます。
Break microorganisms into micro-, meaning “small,” organism, meaning “a living thing,” and plural -s. The singular is microorganism; adding -s regularly shows that more than one microscopic living thing is meant. Picture scientists viewing microorganisms under a microscope or finding them in soil and water. Useful combinations include soil microorganisms, beneficial microorganisms, and microorganisms that break down organic matter. The word refers to a broad group, so it does not mean only bacteria, and individual microorganisms can have helpful, harmful, or neutral roles.
例文
Some microorganisms live in soil and water.
土や水の中には微生物が生きているものがあります。
Scientists study microorganisms under a microscope.
科学者は顕微鏡で微生物を研究します。
Certain microorganisms help break down organic matter.
特定の微生物は有機物の分解を助けます。
microorganisms の類義語・関連語
microorganisms の語源・成り立ち Etymology
microorganisms は micro-「小さい」＋ organism「生物」＋ 複数形 -s の形です。micro- はギリシャ語 mikros、organ は organon「道具・器官」に由来し、「目に見えないほど小さな生き物」という語形成がそのまま「微生物」の意味につながります。関連語は microscope, organ。
Microorganisms is the regular plural of microorganism. The singular combines micro-, from Greek mikros, “small,” with organism, a word built on organ. Organ ultimately comes from Greek organon, “tool” or “instrument,” and organism developed as a term for an organized living being. The plural suffix -s was then added. The resulting formation literally identifies living organisms too small to be readily seen unaided.
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