bacteriophage

[ bak-teer-ee-uh-feyj ]

noun

1. any of a group of viruses that infect specific bacteria, usually causing their disintegration or dissolution.

bacteriophage

/ bækˌtɪərɪˈɒfəɡəs; bækˈtɪərɪəˌfeɪdʒ; bækˌtɪərɪəˈfædʒɪk /

noun

1. a virus that is parasitic in a bacterium and multiplies within its host, which is destroyed when the new viruses are released Often shortened tophage

bacteriophage

/ băk-tîr′ē-ə-fāj′ /

1. A virus that infects and destroys bacterial cells.

Derived Forms

• bacteriophagous, adjective
• bacteriophagic, adjective

Other Words From

• bac·te·ri·o·phag·ic [bak-teer-ee-, uh, -, faj, -ik, -, fey, -jik], bac·te·ri·oph·a·gous [bak-teer-ee-, of, -, uh, -g, uh, s], adjective
• bac·te·ri·oph·a·gy [bak-teer-ee-, of, -, uh, -jee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bacteriophage¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from French bactériophage; bacterio-, -phage

Example Sentences

And that solution, she writes, has been sitting on the shelves of a bacteriophage institute in Tbilisi, Georgia, for decades.

From Salon

What's more, repeats can sometimes actually be viruses in disguise, or bacteriophages.

From Science Daily

Recently, researchers have focused on viruses known as bacteriophages as a new tool to treat and disarm antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

From Science Daily

In a new study published in the journal Water, researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have identified a novel means of treating the wastewater generated by oil and gas production: bacteriophages.

From Science Daily

The team then synthesized a lysin from a bacteriophage, or virus that attacks bacteria, that infects S. hominis.

From Science Daily