Thesaurus: germ theory

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1. n. (medicine) the theory that all contagious diseases are caused by microorganisms
2. 1. (Biol.) The theory that living organisms can be produced only by the development of living germs. Cf. Biogenesis, Abiogenesis. 2. (Med.) The theory which attributes contagious and infectious diseases, suppurative lesions, etc., to the agency of germs. The science of bacteriology was developed after this theory had been established.
3. The theory that living organisms can be produced only by thedevelopment of living germs. Cf. Biogenesis, Abiogenesis.