Bacteriolysis \Bac*te`ri*ol"y*sis\, n. [NL.; fr. Gr. bakth`rion, bak`tron, a staff + ? a loosing.] 1. Chemical decomposition brought about by bacteria without the addition of oxygen. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. The destruction or dissolution of bacterial cells. -- {Bac*te`ri*o*lyt"ic}, a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]