How do you pronounce virtual?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈvɜɹt͡ʃuəl/.

Where does virtual come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

virtual

/ˈvɜɹt͡ʃuəl/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.32 in modern English

Syllables: vir-tu-al
IPA: /ˈvɜɹt͡ʃuəl/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

In effect or essence, rather than in fact or reality; also, imitated, simulated.

adj

For practical purposes, though not technically; almost complete, very near.

adj

Operating using a computer and/or online rather than physically present.

adj

Simulated in a computer and/or online.

adj

Of a class member: capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass.

adj

Pertaining to a theoretical infinitesimal velocity in a mechanical system that does not violate the system's constraints; also, of other physical quantities: resulting from such a velocity.

adj

Pertaining to a theoretical quality of something which would produce an observable effect if counteracting factors such as friction are disregarded; specifically, of a head of water: producing a certain pressure if friction, etc., is disregarded.

adj

Chiefly in virtual focus: of a focus or point: from which light or other radiation apparently emanates; also, of an image: produced by light that appears to diverge from a point beyond the reflecting or refracting surface.

Example Sentences

"In fact a defeat on the battlefield, Tet was a virtual victory for the North, owing to its effect on public opinion."
"Virtual addressing allows computer applications to believe that there is much more physical memory than actually exists."
"[W]e affirm, that Christ is really taken by faith, by the Spirit, to all real effects of his passion; they say, he is taken by the mouth, and that the spiritual and the virtual taking him, in virtue or effect, is not sufficient, though done also in the sacrament."
"And the true art for such popular display is to contrive the best forms for appearing to say something new, when in reality you are but echoing yourself; to break up massy chords into running variations; and to mask, by slight differences in the manner, a virtual identity in the substance."
"VIRTUAL is opposed to actual.— […] A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence. The statue exists virtually in the brass or iron, the oak in the acorn."
"The angry peasants were a virtual army as they attacked the castle."

Etymology

PIE word *wiHrós The adjective is derived from Middle English vertual, virtual [and other forms], from Old French vertüal, vertüelle (modern French virtuel), or from their etymon Medieval Latin virtuālis (“of or pertaining to potency or power; having power to produce an effect, potent; morally virtuous”), from Latin virtūs (“goodness, virtue; manliness, virility”) (from vir (“adult male, man”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós (“man”), possibly from *weyh₁- (“to chase, hunt, pursue”)) + -tūs (suffix forming collective or abstract nouns)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship), modelled after virtuōsus (“good, virtuous”). Sense 4 (“pertaining to a theoretical infinitesimal velocity in a mechanical system that does not violate the system’s constraints”) is borrowed from French virtuel, from Middle French virtuel, from Old French vertüal, vertüelle: see above. The noun is derived from the adjective. Cognates * French virtuel * Italian virtuale * Spanish virtual

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *weyh₁-, vertual, vertüal, virtuālis, virtūs, *wiHrós

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈvɜɹt͡ʃuəl/
British English: /ˈvɜːt͡ʃʊəl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

vertual (alternative) virtuall (alternative) vertuall (alternative) virtuals (plural)

Derived Forms

hypervirtual nonvirtual paravirtual semivirtual televirtual virtopsy virtualisation virtualiser virtualizer virtualise virtualize virtualism

Phrases

mobile virtual network operator non-virtual interface non-virtual interface pattern pure virtual function pure virtual method virtual 8086 mode virtual address virtual assistant

Synonyms

de facto virtuous cyberreal practical

Antonyms

actual real true veritable