virus
/ˈvaɪ.ɹəs/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.42 in modern English
Meaning
noun
A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes causes disease in the host organism (such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms).
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes causes disease in the host organism (such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms).
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes causes disease in the host organism (such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms).
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A disease caused by such an infectious agent; a viral illness.
Countable; Informal; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Viruses are the smallest and most simplified forms of life."
- "Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola."
- "Meronym: virion (individual particle)"
- "Some viruses, such as norovirus, cause sporadic outbreaks of gastroenteritis."
- "Under electron microscopy, a few viruses were seen floating near the cells."
- "Not much virus was detectable on a nucleic acid test; the viral load was very low."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: virus, vīrus, *weizos, *wisós
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Computing.