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provirus

American

[proh-vahy-ruhs, proh-vahy-] / ˈproʊˌvaɪ rəs, proʊˈvaɪ- /

noun

plural

proviruses

a viral form that is incorporated into the genetic material of a host cell.

provirus British

/ ˈprəʊˌvaɪrəs /

noun

the inactive form of a virus in a host cell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of provirus

1945–50; pro- ¹ + virus, on the model of prophage

Compare meaning

How does provirus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

prophage vs. provirus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Furthermore, each tissue sample also contained genetic material from at least one provirus that could still produce viral proteins.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2022

We looked for sequences that matched each HML-2 provirus in the genome and found 37 different HML-2 proviruses that were still active.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2022

Viruses insert their genomes into their hosts in the form of a provirus.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2022

One partial explanation may lie in the ability of new "provirus" particles to remain undetected in cells, doing no evident damage until they are stimulated by chemicals or X rays.

From Time Magazine Archive

It would thus be akin to a "provirus" found in some plants and flies.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023