episome

E1P3I1S1O1M3E1

noun

A segment of DNA that can exist and replicate either autonomously in the cytoplasm or as part of a chromosome, mainly found in bacteria.

Similar
epitheca
OriginAncient Greek σῶμα (sôma) ← Proto-Hellenic *styṓmə? ← Proto-Indo-European *(s)tyoH-mn̥ →
Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nounepisome (plural episomes)

plural episomes

  1. biologyA segment of DNA that can exist and replicate either autonomously in the cytoplasm or as part of a chromosome, mainly found in bacteria.
  2. Synonym of epitheca.

    Synonyms: epitheca

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of epitheca.

Similar
epitheca

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
  4. Proto-Hellenic*epí
  5. Ancient Greekἐπί (epí)
  6. Ancient Greekἐπῐ- (epĭ-)
  7. Englishepi-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*tewh₂-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*twoH-mn̥
  10. Proto-Hellenic*twṓmə?
  11. Proto-Indo-European*styeH-
  12. Proto-Indo-European*(s)tyoH-mn̥
  13. Proto-Hellenic*styṓmə?
  14. Ancient Greekσῶμα (sôma)
  15. Englishepisome

From epi- + -some (“nucleic unit”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

episome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/episome

MLA

“episome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/episome. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “episome,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/episome.

Source: episome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.