Meaning & Definition of word "Virus"

Virus

/ˈvaɪrəs/

1. A submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.
- Example: The flu virus spreads easily during the winter months.
2. A computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the user's consent.
- Example: Make sure to update your antivirus software to protect against the latest computer viruses.
3. An infection or a disease caused by a virus.
- Example: He was diagnosed with a viral infection, likely caused by a common cold virus.

Late Latin 'virus' meaning 'poison, slime'

viral infection:

An illness caused by a virus that usually spreads from one person to another.

viral marketing:

A marketing strategy that encourages individuals to share a marketing message to others, potentially leading to exponential growth.

viral load:

The amount of virus present in a patient's blood or bodily fluids.

bacteria:

Single-celled organisms that can cause disease but are different from viruses.

infection:

The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that are not normally present in the body.

antivirus:

Software designed to detect and destroy computer viruses.

Meaning: A viral video

Example Sentence: That clip from the concert went viral overnight!

Meaning: To catch a virus

Example Sentence: I don't want to catch a virus during flu season.