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E. coli

noun [U]
 
 
/ˌiːˈkəʊ.laɪ/ US  /ˌiːˈkoʊ.laɪ/

Definition

abbreviation for Escherichia coli: a bacterium (= small organism) that can exist in food that has not been cooked enough and can cause serious illness or deathBacteria, moulds, germs and viruses
(Definition of E. coli noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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