/in'teuhr fear"on/ , n.
1. Biochem. any of various proteins, produced by virus-infected cells, that inhibit reproduction of the invading virus and induce resistance to further infection.
2. Pharm. Also called alpha-interferon . an interferon produced by genetically engineered bacteria and harvested for use against hairy cell leukemia.
[ 1957; INTERFERE + -ON 1 ]