VIRUS

virus

(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

virus, computer virus

(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”

virus

(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”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

virus (countable and uncountable, plural viruses or virusses or vira or viri or virii)

A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure consisting of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and often causes disease in the host organism.

A disease caused by these organisms.

(archaic) Venom, as produced by a poisonous animal etc.

(computing) 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.

(computing, proscribed) Any type of malware.

Synonyms

• See also virus

Hypernyms

• (computing): malware

Hyponyms

• DNA virus

• RNA virus

Source: Wiktionary

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Vi"rus, n. Etym: [L., a slimy liquid, a poisonous liquid, poison, stench; akin to Gr. visha. Cf. Wizen, v. i.]

1. (Med.) (a) Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; -- applied to organic poisons. (b) 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.

Note: The specific virus of diseases is now regarded as a microscopic living vegetable organism which multiplies within the body, and, either by its own action or by the associated development of a chemical poison, causes the phenomena of the special disease.

2. Fig.: Any morbid corrupting quality in intellectual or moral conditions; something that poisons the mind or the soul; as, the virus of obscene books.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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