n.
Pronunciation: ' e-p ə - ˌ s ō m, - ˌ z ō m
Function: noun
Date: circa 1931
: a genetic determinant (as the DNA of some bacteriophages) that can replicate autonomously in bacterial cytoplasm or as an integral part of the chromosomes
– epi · som · al \ ˌ e-p ə - ' s ō -m ə l, - ' z ō - \ adjective
– epi · som · al · ly \ -m ə -l ē \ adverb