Jessica Le 

Microbiology Concept Vocabulary Chart 

(Tools, Concepts & Techniques) 
 
Vocabulary list can be found here 
 

Term/Concept  Definition/Explanation  Visual Example” 

Provide some type of 
visual/picture/diagram that will help you 
remember the term 

Inoculate/Inoculation  Introduce cells into a culture  Inoculating 

medium 

loop 

Microbe (Microorganism)   A tiny, usually microscopic, entity 

capable of carrying on living 
processes  

Bacteria  Single-celled organisms that lack a 

nucleus; prokaryotes 

 
Viruses   Tiny particles, smaller than 
bacteria and other pathogens, 
which must invade living cells in 
order to reproduce 

Fungi   Nongreen. Eukaryotic organisms 

that get food by breaking down 
substances in their surroundings 
and absorbing the nutrients 

Prokaryotic cell   Cell that does snot have a nucleus 

or other membrane-bound 
organelles 

Eukaryotic cell  Cell that has a nucleus and other 

membrane-bound organelles 

 
Aseptic technique  Method used to make the 
environment, the worker, and the 
patient as germ-free as possible  

Microscopy  The use of light or electrons to 

magnify objects 

Oil immersion  This objective of the microscope is 

used for observing bacteria, and 
other tiny cells with the use of oil 

Growth media  Nutrient-rich environment for 

isolating and culturing 
microorganisms 

Culture  Growing microorganisms by 

placing them in supportive 
environments 

Sterile  Free from microorganisms 

 
Incubate  To keep at a suitable temperature 
for growth  

c  A visible group of bacteria 

growing on a solid medium, 
presumably arising from a single 
microorganism (forms a small dot)  

Gram staining   A method of differentiating 

bacteria into gram-positive and 
gram-negative  

Heat fixation  In microscopy, a technique that 

uses the heat from a flame to 
attach a smear to a slide 

 
Petri dish  A shallow dish used to culture 
bacteria 

Forceps  Instrument used to pick up or 

hold small items 

Morphology   Study of form 

Bacillus  A rod-shaped bacterium 

Coccus   A spherical bacterium 

 
Spirillum   A spiral-shaped bacterium 

Singly  An individual (one) 

Diplo  In pairs 

Strepto  Forming chains 

Staphylo  Forming clusters (like grapes)   

 
 Antibiotic  A chemical that kills bacteria or 
slows their growth without 
harming body cells 

Antiseptic   A chemical used to kill microbes 

(used on living creatures, but 
often toxic taken internally) 

Disinfectant  A chemical used to kill microbes 

(used on non-living surfaces) 

Fermentation   Process by which cells release 

energy in the absence of oxygen 
(can produce lactic acid or 
alcohol)