bacteriophage

bac te ri o phage |bakˈti (ə )rēəˌfāj bækˈtɪriəfeɪʤ | ▶noun Biology a virus that parasitizes a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it. ORIGIN 1920s: from bacterium + Greek phagein ‘eat. ’

bacteriophage

bacteriophage |bakˈtɪərɪə (ʊ )feɪdʒ, -fɑːʒ | ▶noun Biology a virus which parasitizes a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it. Bacteriophages are much used in genetic research. ORIGIN 1920s: from bacterium + Greek phagein ‘eat ’.