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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

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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.

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

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

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

A provirus could be passed from one sheep to another by inoculation.

From Time Magazine Archive

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