vi·rus (v  r s)n. pl. vi·rus·es 1. a. Any of various simple submicroscopic parasites of plants, animals, and bacteria that often cause disease and that consist essentially of a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell, viruses are typically not considered living organisms. b. A disease caused by a virus. 2. Something that poisons one's soul or mind: the pernicious virus of racism. 3. Computer Science A computer virus. [Latin v rus, poison.] |
virus [ˈvaɪrəs]
n pl -ruses
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Microbiology) any of a group of submicroscopic entities consisting of a single nucleic acid chain surrounded by a protein coat and capable of replication only within the cells of living organisms: many are pathogenic
2. (Medicine / Pathology) Informal a disease caused by a virus
3. any corrupting or infecting influence
4. (Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) Computing an unauthorized program that inserts itself into a computer system and then propagates itself to other computers via networks or disks; when activated it interferes with the operation of the computer
[from Latin: slime, poisonous liquid; related to Old English wāse marsh, Greek ios poison]
virus-like adj
vi•rus (ˈvaɪ rəs)
n., pl. -rus•es.
1. an ultramicroscopic (20 to 300 nm in diameter), metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals: composed of an RNA or DNA core, a protein coat, and, in more complex types, a surrounding envelope.
2. a disease caused by a virus.
3. a corrupting influence on morals or the intellect; poison.
4. a segment of self-replicating code planted illegally in a computer program, often to damage or shut down a system or network.
[1590–1600; < Latin vīrus slime, poison; akin to ooze2]
vi′rus•like`, adj.
| virus (vrs) Plural viruses 1. Any of various extremely small, often disease-causing agents consisting of a particle (the virion), containing a segment of RNA or DNA within a protein coat known as a capsid. Viruses are not technically considered living organisms because they are devoid of biological processes (such as metabolism and respiration) and cannot reproduce on their own but require a living cell (of a plant, animal, or bacterium) to make more viruses. Viruses reproduce first either by injecting their genetic material into the host cell or by fully entering the cell and shedding their protein coat. The genetic material may then be incorporated into the cell's own genome or remain in the cytoplasm. Eventually the viral genes instruct the cell to produce new viruses, which often cause the cell to die upon their exit. Rather than being primordial forms of life, viruses probably evolved from rogue pieces of cellular nucleic acids. The common cold, influenza, chickenpox, smallpox, measles, mumps, yellow fever, hemorrhagic fevers, and some cancers are among the diseases caused by viruses. 2. Computer Science A computer program that duplicates itself in a manner that is harmful to normal computer use. Most viruses work by attaching themselves to another program. The amount of damage varies; viruses may erase all data or do nothing but reproduce themselves. viral adjective |
virus - A Latin word meaning "poison" or "slimy liquid," it first meant "venom of a snake."
See also related terms for poison.
Thesaurus Legend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | virus - (virology) ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein micro-organism, microorganism - any organism of microscopic size arborvirus, arbovirus - a large heterogeneous group of RNA viruses divisible into groups on the basis of the virions; they have been recovered from arthropods, bats, and rodents; most are borne by arthropods; they are linked by the epidemiologic concept of transmission between vertebrate hosts by arthropod vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, midges, etc.) that feed on blood; they can cause mild fevers, hepatitis, hemorrhagic fever, and encephalitis virion - (virology) a complete viral particle; nucleic acid and capsid (and a lipid envelope in some viruses) bacteriophage, phage - a virus that is parasitic (reproduces itself) in bacteria; "phage uses the bacterium's machinery and energy to produce more phage until the bacterium is destroyed and phage is released to invade surrounding bacteria" plant virus - a plant pathogen that is a virus consisting of a single strand of RNA animal virus - an animal pathogen that is a virus slow virus - a virus that remains dormant in the body for a long time before symptoms appear; "kuru is caused by a slow virus" tumor virus - a cell-free filtrate held to be a virus responsible for a specific neoplasm vector - (genetics) a virus or other agent that is used to deliver DNA to a cell virology - the branch of medical science that studies viruses and viral diseases infectious agent, infective agent - an agent capable of producing infection atrophic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism - a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint |
| 2. | virus - a harmful or corrupting agency; "bigotry is a virus that must not be allowed to spread"; "the virus of jealousy is latent in everyone" delegacy, representation, agency - the state of serving as an official and authorized delegate or agent | |
| 3. |  virus - a software program capable of reproducing itself and usually capable of causing great harm to files or other programs on the same computer; "a true virus cannot spread to another computer without human assistance"malevolent program - a computer program designed to have undesirable or harmful effects |
Translations
virus [ˈvaɪərəs]
A. N (viruses (pl)) (Med, Comput) → virus m inv
rabies virus → virus m inv de la rabia
the AIDS virus → el virus del SIDA
a computer virus → un virus informático
rabies virus → virus m inv de la rabia
the AIDS virus → el virus del SIDA
a computer virus → un virus informático
B. CPD virus disease N → enfermedad f vírica
virus
1. any of various types of germs that are a cause of disease.
2. a computer code that is inserted into a program to destroy information or cause errors.
adjectiveHe is suffering from a virus infection.
virus → فيروس vir virus Virus ιός virus virus virus virus virus ウイルス 바이러스 virus virus wirus vírus вирус virus เชื้อไวรัส virüs vi-rút 病毒
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