bacteriophage

noun

bac·​te·​ri·​o·​phage bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌfāj How to pronounce bacteriophage (audio)
also
-ˌfäzh How to pronounce bacteriophage (audio)
plural bacteriophages
: a virus that infects bacteria : phage
Much smaller than the bacteria they attack, bacteriophages cannot grow and multiply on their own.C. Claiborne Ray
The genes were amplified by using PCR [=polymerase chain reaction] and inserted into … a bacteriophage of E. coli.Ricki Lewis
bacteriophagy noun

Examples of bacteriophage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Enlarge / Schematic depiction of the aerosolization and spread of a bacteriophage to adjacent areas after flushing with the lid open and the lid closed. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2024 In 1973, researchers studying bacteriophage P2, a virus that infects the gut bacterium Escherichia coli, found that this infection sometimes led to two different types of viruses emerging from the cell: phage P2 and phage P4. The Conversation, Scientific American, 14 Nov. 2023 This evidence supported the idea that both types of bacteriophages were actually interacting with each other. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Nov. 2023 The viruses in the study are both categorized as bacteriophages. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Nov. 2023 The method taps bacteriophages, a type of virus that infects and kills bacteria, to combat infections. Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023 An emerging option is known as phage therapy, which relies on a type of virus known as a bacteriophage. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Oct. 2023 Nature has also offered a potential solution: bacteriophage, viruses that naturally destroy bacteria. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 31 July 2023 Some scientists see promise in a treatment called bacteriophage therapy. Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bacteriophage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bacteriophage was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near bacteriophage

Cite this Entry

“Bacteriophage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacteriophage. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bacteriophage

noun
bac·​te·​rio·​phage
bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌfāj,
-ˌfāzh
: any of various viruses that specifically attack bacteria

Medical Definition

bacteriophage

noun
bac·​te·​ri·​o·​phage bak-ˈtir-ē-ə-ˌfāj How to pronounce bacteriophage (audio) -ˌfäzh How to pronounce bacteriophage (audio)
: a virus that infects bacteria : phage
Bacteriophages invade bacterial cells and burst them open before they have a chance to produce lactic acid.Diana Morgan and Terence Monmaney, Science
bacteriophagy noun
plural bacteriophagies

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