[], (Noun)

Definitions:
- A proteinaceous filamentous structure projecting from the surface of a bacterium or other microorganism; specifically (more fully "sex pilus") any of those present singly or in small numbers on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria, which are encoded by conjugative plasmids and play a role in conjugation.


Phrases:

Origin:
mid 18th century (in an earlier sense). From scientific Latin pilus from classical Latin pilus hair