prophage

P3R1O1P3H4A1G2E1

noun

The latent form of a bacteriophage in which the viral genome is inserted into the host chromosome.

OriginEnglish phage ← Ancient Greek πρό (pró) ← Proto-Indo-European *pró →
UncommonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounprophage (plural prophages)

plural prophages

  1. biologyThe latent form of a bacteriophage in which the viral genome is inserted into the host chromosome.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Ancient Greekπρό (pró)
  5. Englishpro-
  6. Englishphage
  7. Englishprophage

From pro- + phage.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Icelandic forveira, dulveira
  • forveiralatent form of a bacteriophage in which the viral genome is inserted into the host chromosome
  • dulveiralatent form of a bacteriophage in which the viral genome is inserted into the host chromosome
Italian profago
  • profagolatent form of a bacteriophage in which the viral genome is inserted into the host chromosome
Cite this entry
APA

prophage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prophage

MLA

“prophage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prophage. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “prophage,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prophage.

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