Biol. [mod.L. (Cohn, 1872), f. Gr. ζῴον animal + γλοιός glutinous substance.] An aggregate of bacteria with thickened cell-walls, forming a gelatinous mass. Also attrib. Hence Zooglœic a.
1877. F. T. Roberts, Handbk. Med. (ed. 3), I. 95. Living objects variously described as bacteria, vibrios, micrococci, microzymes, zooglœa, &c.
1877. Huxley & Martin, Elem. Biol., 26. Bacteria, in the still state, very often become surrounded by a gelatinous matter…. This is termed the Zoogloea form of Bacterium.
1905. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 25 Feb., 409/2. The giant or mother cells have the appearance of zoogloeic masses.
