petri dish

noun pe·tri dish \ˈpē-trē-\

Definition of PETRI DISH

: a small shallow dish of thin glass or plastic with a loose cover used especially for cultures in bacteriology

: something (as a place or situation) that fosters development or innovation <the college was a petri dish for radical views>

Origin of PETRI DISH

Julius R. Petri †1921 German bacteriologist

First Known Use: circa 1892

Other Microbiology Terms

pathogen, salmonella, tetanus

Rhymes with PETRI DISH

angelfish, anglerfish, archerfish, bony fish, butterfish, candlefish, cuttlefish, damselfish, devilfish, flying fish, guitarfish, jellyfish, John Bullish, ladyfish, lantern fish, lionfish, microfiche, muttonfish, needlefish, overfish, paddlefish, parrot fish, pilot fish, puffer fish, rainbow fish, ribbonfish, silverfish, surgeonfish, triggerfish, zebra fish

Medical Dictionary

petri dish

noun pe·tri dish \ˈpē-trē-\

Medical Definition of PETRI DISH

: a small shallow dish of thin glass or plastic with a loose cover used especially for cultures in bacteriology

Biographical Note for PETRI DISH

Pe·tri \ˈpā-trē\ , Julius Richard (1852–1921), German bacteriologist. Petri was an assistant to the eminent bacteriologist Robert Koch. In 1887 Petri introduced a vessel for growing bacteria that consists of two round rimmed plates, one serving as a cover for the other.