virus

Definition

• n. (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
• n. a harmful or corrupting agency
• n. a software program capable of reproducing itself and usually capable of causing great harm to files or other programs on the same computer

Word forms

Plural

viruses

Example sentences

1. n.

   The flu virus can spread quickly in crowded places.

2. 化

   Scientists are researching how to create a vaccine for this new virus.