Nitrobacteraceae

plural noun

Ni·​tro·​bac·​te·​ra·​ce·​ae ¦nī-(ˌ)trō-(ˌ)bak-tə-¦rā-sē-ˌē 

variants or less commonly Nitrobacteriaceae

¦nī-(ˌ)trō-(ˌ)bak-ˌtir-ē-¦ā-sē-ˌē 

in some classifications

: a family of bacteria capable of using carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and obtaining energy by oxidation of ammonia or nitrites see nitrifying bacterium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, irregular from Nitrobacter, type genus + -aceae

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