n. pl. rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae; most occur normally or pathogenically in intestines of humans and other animals; some, such as those of the genus Erwinia, are found in plants.
Syn. -- enteric bacteria, enterics. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. (Microbiol.) a natural family of rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria, most of which occur normally or pathogenically in intestines of humans and other animals, and some of which grow in plants. The type genus is Escherichia. They are aerobic and facultatively anaerobic, and may be motile or non-motile. Most are easily cultured on artificial growth media. Both pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains exist. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to the enterobacteria. [ PJC ]

n. one of the enterobacteria; a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae.
Syn. -- enteric bacterium, enteric. [ PJC ]

prop. n. (Zool.) a genus of nematode worms. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. 'enterokh`lh; 'e`nteron an intestine + kh`lh tumor, hernia. ] (Med.) A hernial tumor whose contents are intestine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'e`nteron an intestine + koi^lon a hollow. ] (Anat.) A perivisceral cavity which arises as an outgrowth or outgrowths from the digestive tract; distinguished from a schizocœle, which arises by a splitting of the mesoblast of the embryo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'e`nteron an intestine + -graphy. ] (Anat.) A treatise upon, or description of, the intestines; enterology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'e`nteron an intestine + -lith. ] (Med.) An intestinal concretion. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'e`nteron an intestine + -logy: cf. F. entérologie. ] The science which treats of the viscera of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]