coliform — [kō′lə fôrm΄, käl′əfôrm΄] adj. [ COL(ON) + I + FORM] designating, of, or like the aerobic bacillus normally found in the colon: a coliform count is often used as an indicator of fecal contamination of water supplies … English World dictionary
coliform — 1850s, resembling a sieve, from L. colum strainer; meaning resembling a bacillus of the coli group is from 1906, from coli + form … Etymology dictionary
coliform — adjective Date: 1906 of, relating to, or being gram negative rod shaped bacteria (as E. coli) normally present in the intestine < monitored coliform levels in drinking water > • coliform noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
coliform — co·li·form kō lə .fȯrm, käl ə adj of, relating to, or being gram negative rod shaped bacteria (as E. coli) normally present in the intestine <monitored coliform levels in drinking water> coliform n * * * col·i·form (koґlĭ form) [L.… … Medical dictionary
coliform — adj. pertaining to or resembling a coliform bacillus (type of intestinal bacteria) … English contemporary dictionary
coliform — I. ˈkälə̇ˌfȯrm, ˈkōl adjective Etymology: col (II) + form : relating to, resembling, or being the colon bacillus II. noun ( s) Etymology: by shortening … Useful english dictionary
Coliform index — The coliform index is a rating of the purity of water based on a count of fecal bacteria. Coliform bacteria are microorganisms that primarily originate in the intestines of warm blooded animals. By testing for coliforms, especially the well known … Wikipedia
Coliform bacteria — Not to be confused with Coliiformes. Escherichia coli Coliform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water. They are defined as rod shaped Gram negative non spore forming bacteria which can ferment… … Wikipedia
Coliform Index — The Coliform Index is a rating of the purity of water based on a count of fecal bacteria. Coliform bacteria are microorganisms that primarily originate in the intestines of warm blooded animals. By testing for coliforms, especially the well known … Wikipedia
coliform bacillus — Bacteriol. any of several bacilli, esp. Escherichia coli and members of the genus Aerobacter, found as commensals in the large intestine of humans and certain other animals, the presence of which in water indicates fecal pollution. Also called… … Useful english dictionary