coronavirus
/kəˈɹoʊnəˌvaɪɹəs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.22 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
5
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A member of the family Coronaviridae, comprising viruses which infect animals and human beings, and the genome of which consists of a single strand of RNA.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A member of the family Coronaviridae, comprising viruses which infect animals and human beings, and the genome of which consists of a single strand of RNA.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "A new group of viruses with the name of coronaviruses has been recognized by an informal group of virologists who have sent their conclusions to Nature. […] In the opinion of the eight virologists these viruses are members of a previously unrecognized group which they suggest should be called the coronaviruses, to recall the characteristic appearance by which these viruses are identified in the electron microscope."
- "This characteristic structural resemblance and other shared properties of these viruses have caused certain virologists to propose the name coronavirus for this previously unrecognized group."
- "The virus, designated as rat coronavirus (RCV), exhibits properties representative of the coronavirus group: characteristic surface structure, particles somewhat variable in size averaging approximately 90 mμ, apparent RNA content, essential lipid, heat sensitivity, and a close serologic relationship with the mouse hepatitis virus complex."
- "In 1971 a canine coronavirus was isolated from feces of military dogs that were suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea. [...] Diagnosis usually is based on the history and physical examination and the identification of coronavirus by electron microscope examination of feces or by performing other laboratory tests on the feces."
- "Some accompanying cytotoxicity has also been observed as well as slight activity against A59 corona virus without concurrent cytotoxicity [...]."
- "[T]he replication of the corona-virus and the herpes-simplex virus is blocked by cystatin C [...]"
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱorh₂-der. Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē)bor. Latin corōna Italian coronabor. English corona Proto-Indo-European *weys- Proto-Indo-European *wisós Proto-Italic *weizos Latin vīrusbor. Middle English virus English virus English coronavirus From corona (“crown-like circle of light appearing around the sun”) + virus. Corona is derived from Latin corōna (“garland, wreath; crown”), from Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “something curved; curved stern of a ship; end, point, tip”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). The name refers to the characteristic appearance of its virions by electron microscopy, which have a fringe of surface projections creating an image reminiscent of a solar corona. Compare the former genus name Coronavirus.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /kəˈɹoʊnəˌvaɪɹəs/
- British English: /kəˈɹəʊnəˌvaɪɹəs/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
bovine coronavirus
corona belly
corona blues
coronavirus disease 2019
coronavirus party
COVID-19
feline coronavirus
murine coronavirus