Definition

A type of bacteria that can produce a very strong toxin and is often found in soil.

Example

Botulinum can cause serious illness if ingested in contaminated food.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of botulinum?

Yeah, it's that bacterium people talk about with food safety, right?

Exactly! It's crazy how something so small can be so dangerous.

I know, right? That's why it's important to be careful with canned foods.

Root Explanation

Botulinum is derived from the Latin word "botulus" (meaning sausage), as the toxin was first identified in spoiled sausage. The suffix "-inum" is a common Latin suffix used to form nouns, often indicating a chemical substance. Therefore, botulinum refers to a substance derived from spoiled sausage.

Memory Tip

Think of the Latin word for sausage, 'botulus', to remember that botulinum is related to a toxin found in spoiled sausage.

Visually Confused Words