pilus
/ˈpʌɪləs/noun
Microbiology. A proteinaceous filamentous structure projecting from the surface of a bacterium or other microorganism; specifically (more fully sex pilus) any of those present singly or in small numbers on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria, which are encoded by conjugative plasmids and play a role in conjugation.
Origin
Mid 18th century (in an earlier sense). From scientific Latin pilus from classical Latin pilus hair.
- rackful
- Rackham, Arthur
- Rackhamesque
- rack-heap
- rack hook
- rackie
- rackingly
- Rackinsack
- rack job
- rack-jobber
- rack-jobbing
- rack-lashing
- rackle
- rackle-handed
- rackle-tongued
- rack lever
- rack-master
- rack-mount
- rack-mountable
- rack-mounted
- rack mounting
- rack of bones
- rack (or wrack) one's brains (or brain)
- rack-out
- rack pillar