| Noun | 1. | Bacillus - aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soilBacillus anthracis, anthrax - a species of Bacillus that causes anthrax in humans and in animals (cattle and swine and sheep and sheep and rabbits and mice and guinea pigs); can be used a bioweapon Yersinia pestis - a Bacillus bacteria that causes plague; aerosolized bacteria can be used as a bioweapon genus Bacillus - type genus of the Bacillaceae; includes many saprophytes important in decay of organic matter and a number of parasites | |