n.
The latent form of a bacteriophage in which the viral genes are incorporated into the bacterial chromosomes without causing disruption of the bacterial cell.
[Short for French probactériophage : Greek pro-, before; see pro-2 + French bactériophage, bacteriophage; see bacterio- + Greek -phagos, -phage.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
