zoogloea

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. zw^, on an animal + &unr_; any glutinous substance. ] (Biol.) A colony or mass of bacteria imbedded in a viscous gelatinous substance. The zoogloea is characteristic of a transitory stage through which rapidly multiplying bacteria pass in the course of their evolution. Also used adjectively. [ 1913 Webster ]