virus

Plural

viruses

1. 1.A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes causes disease in the host organism (such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms).

   • Viruses are the smallest and most simplified forms of life.
   • Under electron microscopy, a few viruses were seen floating near the cells.
   • Some viruses, such as norovirus, cause sporadic outbreaks of gastroenteritis.

2. 2.A quantity of such infectious agents, considered en masse.

   • Not much virus was detectable on a nucleic acid test; the viral load was very low.

3. 3.A disease caused by such an infectious agent; a viral illness.(informal)

   • He's got a virus and had to stay home from school.

4. 4.A type of malware which can covertly transmit itself between computers via networks (especially the Internet) or removable storage such as disks, often causing damage to systems and data; also computer virus.

   • Wait a minute! Is this one of those virus emails?!

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