Virus

/ˈvaɪrəs/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.

The flu virus spreads easily during the winter months.

A computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the user's consent.

Make sure to update your antivirus software to protect against the latest computer viruses.

An infection or a disease caused by a virus.

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.

A viral video

That clip from the concert went viral overnight!

To catch a virus

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