microorganism
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microorganism
A microscopic living organism that is not visible to the naked eye. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and single-celled organisms, among others.
Joghurt entsteht durch die Fermentation von Milch mithilfe bestimmter Mikroorganismen.
Yogurt is made through the fermentation of milk with the help of certain microorganisms.
The word is composed of the Greek prefix 'mikro-' (small) and the word 'Organismus' (organism). So it literally means 'small living organism'.
Viele Mikroorganismen sind für das menschliche Auge unsichtbar.
Many microorganisms are invisible to the human eye.
'Mikroorganismus' (microorganism) is a technical term from biology and medicine. You find it mainly in scientific or informative texts.
In dem Laborbericht wurde das Vorkommen verschiedener Mikroorganismen dokumentiert.
The lab report documented the presence of various microorganisms.
A distinction is often made between 'nützlichen Mikroorganismen' (beneficial microorganisms), for example in food, and 'schädlichen' (harmful) or 'krankheitserregenden Mikroorganismen' (pathogenic microorganisms).
Nicht alle Mikroorganismen sind schädlich; einige sind für unsere Verdauung sogar nützlich.
Not all microorganisms are harmful; some are even useful for our digestion.
virus
'Virus' and 'Mikroorganismus' can both relate to very small pathogens or living organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, 'Virus' is a specific type of pathogen. It can cause diseases and can reproduce only in living cells. 'Mikroorganismus' is a much more general word for microscopic living organisms, for example bacteria, fungi, or single-celled organisms; in some contexts, viruses are also included. The words can be confused because both occur in medicine and biology. If the exact type is known, you say 'Virus'. If you are speaking generally about very small organisms, 'Mikroorganismus' fits better.
Im Biologieunterricht sieht die Klasse einen Mikroorganismus unter dem Mikroskop.
In biology class, the class sees a microorganism under the microscope.
Die Ärztin sagt, dass das Virus sich besonders im Winter schnell verbreitet.
The doctor says that the virus spreads especially quickly in winter.