Virus
['vaɪrəs]
Definition
(noun.) (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.
(noun.) 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'.
(noun.) a harmful or corrupting agency; 'bigotry is a virus that must not be allowed to spread'; 'the virus of jealousy is latent in everyone'.
Edited by Guthrie--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; -- applied to organic poisons.
(v. i.) The special contagion, inappreciable to the senses and acting in exceedingly minute quantities, by which a disease is introduced into the organism and maintained there.
(v. i.) Fig.: Any morbid corrupting quality in intellectual or moral conditions; something that poisons the mind or the soul; as, the virus of obscene books.
Edited by Allison
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Poison (of a morbid nature), VENOM.
Checked by Aida
Definition
n. contagious or poisonous matter (as of ulcers &c.): the poison which causes infection: any foul hurtful matter.—adjs. Vī′rose Vī′rous; Virūlif′erous bearing a specific virus.
Checked by Casey
Examples
- This temper now entered like a virus into the firm, and there were cruel eruptions. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Cultures of chicken chol era virus kept for some time became less active. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The weakened virus increased in strength when cult ivated in a series of rabbits. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- He conjectured that in vaccinal immunity the virus is accompanied by a substance which makes the nervous tissue unfavorable for the development of the mic robe. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The inoculations of th e attenuated virus began at once. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- A hen that chanced to be inoculated with the weakened virus developed the diseas e, but, after a time, recovered (much as patients after the old-time small pox inoculations). Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- So quickly the virus worked that at the end of a dozen leaps the deer plunged headlong into the undergrowth, dead. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- To obtain attenuation of the virus it was sufficient to dry the medulla taken from an infected rabbit. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- You apprehend the effects of the virus? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- In the case of an thrax the virus could be weakened by keeping it at a certain temperature, while it could be strengthened by passage through a succession of guinea-pigs. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
Inputed by Billy