French word

microbien

Pronunciation

IPA/mikʁobjɛ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmicrobe

Example

Nous avons trouvé un microbien dans l'eau.

We found a microbe in the water.

Illustration for microbien (microbe)

More examples

Un microbien peut se trouver sur des aliments mal lavés.

A microorganism may be found on poorly washed food.

Core concept

A tiny living organism, or the microbial activity associated with it, in water or on a surface.

Common phrases

  • trouver un microbien dans la nourriture

    find a microorganism in food

  • un microbien sur la peau

    a microorganism on the skin

Similar words

germe: A tiny organism capable of causing an infection.
bactérie: A tiny single-celled organism that reproduces to increase its numbers.
microbe: A broad term for a microscopic organism.
virus: A tiny disease-causing agent that multiplies inside a host cell.

Definition in French

Désigne un être microscopique vivant, le terme servant aussi à qualifier des phénomènes liés aux microbes.

Word origin

Microbien is formed from French microbe with the suffix -ien, while microbe comes from Greek mikros, 'small,' and bios, 'life.'

Usage tips

  • As an adjective, microbien agrees in gender: une activité microbienne, while the masculine noun un microbien means a microorganism.

Other meanings

  • microbialadjective

Related words

  • microbemicroorganismnoun
  • microbiologiquemicrobiologicaladjective

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