VIRTUALLY

about, almost, most, nearly, near, nigh, virtually, well-nigh

(adverb) (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but; “the job is (just) about done”; “the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded”; “we’re almost finished”; “the car all but ran her down”; “he nearly fainted”; “talked for nigh onto 2 hours”; “the recording is well-nigh perfect”; “virtually all the parties signed the contract”; “I was near exhausted by the run”; “most everyone agrees”

virtually

(adverb) in essence or effect but not in fact; “the strike virtually paralyzed the city”; “I’m virtually broke”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adverb

virtually (comparative more virtually, superlative most virtually)

Almost but not quite.

Synonym: as good as

Without exaggeration.

In essence, but not in fact.

(algebra) Of a substructure of finite index.

(topology) Of a covering space of finite index.

Source: Wiktionary

Vir"tu*al*ly, adv.

Definition: In a virtual manner; in efficacy or effect only, and not actually; to all intents and purposes; practically.

VIRTUAL

Vir"tu*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. virtuel. See Virtue.]

1. Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the agency of the material or sensible part; potential; energizing. Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance. Bacon. Every kind that lives, Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed. Milton.

2. Being in essence or effect, not in fact; as, the virtual presence of a man in his agent or substitute. A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence. Fleming. To mask by slight differences in the manners a virtual identity in the substance. De Quincey. Principle of virtual velocities (Mech.), the law that when several forces are in equilibrium, the algebraic sum of their virtual moments is equal to zero.

– Virtual focus (Opt.), the point from which rays, having been rendered divergent by reflection of refraction, appear to issue; the point at which converging rays would meet if not reflected or refracted before they reach it.

– Virtual image. (Optics) See under Image.

– Virtual moment (of a force) (Mech.), the product of the intensity of the force multiplied by the virtual velocity of its point of application; -- sometimes called virtual work.

– Virtual velocity (Mech.), a minute hypothetical displacement, assumed in analysis to facilitate the investigation of statical problems. With respect to any given force of a number of forces holding a material system in equilibrium, it is the projection, upon the direction of the force, of a line joining its point of application with a new position of that point indefinitely near to the first, to which the point is conceived to have been moved, without disturbing the equilibrium of the system, or the connections of its parts with each other. Strictly speaking, it is not a velocity but a length.

– Virtual work. (Mech.) See Virtual moment, above.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition