brucella: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “brucella” mean?
A genus of small, Gram-negative, non-motile bacteria that cause brucellosis, a disease affecting various mammals including humans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A genus of small, Gram-negative, non-motile bacteria that cause brucellosis, a disease affecting various mammals including humans.
The term can refer to any bacterium belonging to the Brucella genus, or be used informally as a shortening for 'brucellosis', the disease they cause.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The disease name 'brucellosis' is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical/medical connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both British and American general English, confined almost exclusively to specialist texts and conversations.
Grammar
How to Use “brucella” in a Sentence
Brucella + [species name] (e.g., Brucella canis)Verb + brucella (e.g., culture, identify, transmit)Adjective + brucella (e.g., zoonotic brucella)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brucella” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The brucella serology test came back positive.
- A brucella outbreak was suspected in the herd.
American English
- The Brucella culture required a specialized medium.
- Brucella research funding has increased.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
[Almost never used]
Academic
Used in microbiology, veterinary science, and medical research papers. Example: 'The study focused on the genomic diversity of Brucella strains isolated from livestock.'
Everyday
[Almost never used outside of specific health contexts]
Technical
Core term in veterinary diagnostics, public health epidemiology, and infectious disease control. Example: 'The milk sample was tested for the presence of Brucella.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brucella”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brucella”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brucella”
- Incorrect plural: 'brucellas' is rarely used; 'Brucella species' or 'Brucella strains' is preferred.
- Incorrect capitalization: Should be capitalized as it is a genus name (Brucella).
- Mispronunciation: Stressing the first syllable (BRU-cella) instead of the second (bru-CELL-a).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Brucella species cause brucellosis, a classic zoonotic disease primarily transmitted through contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated, unpasteurized dairy products.
Yes, human brucellosis is treatable with specific, long-course antibiotic regimens, but it can be serious if left untreated. Animal vaccination and herd management are key to control.
It is capitalized because it is the scientific genus name, following the biological nomenclature convention where genus names are italicized and capitalized (e.g., Brucella abortus).
It is most commonly used by veterinarians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, public health officials, farmers, and medical doctors specializing in infectious diseases.
A genus of small, Gram-negative, non-motile bacteria that cause brucellosis, a disease affecting various mammals including humans.
Brucella is usually technical/scientific in register.
Brucella: in British English it is pronounced /bruːˈsɛlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /bruˈsɛlə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Bruce' (a name) + 'ella' (small). Imagine a small, harmful bacterium named Bruce causing illness.
Conceptual Metaphor
PATHOGEN AS INVADER (Brucella invades host cells).
Practice
Quiz
Brucella is primarily associated with which type of disease?