coliform bacillus: Meaning and Definition of

col'iform bacil'lus

Pronunciation: [key]
— Bacteriol. Bacteriol.
  1. 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
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.