conversion

conversion definition - medical

con·ver·sion (kən-vûrˈzhən, -shən)

noun
  1. The acquisition by bacteria of a new property associated with presence of a prophage.
  2. A defense mechanism in which repressed ideas, conflicts, or impulses are manifested by various bodily symptoms, such as paralysis or breathing difficulties, that have no physical cause.

Related Forms:

  • con·verˈsive (-sĭv) adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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