virus

Pluralviruses

Formsviruses, virusing, virused

1. 1
   tiny germnouncountable or uncountable

   A very tiny thing, usually much smaller than bacteria, that gets into living cells, makes copies of itself, and can cause disease.

   Like a tiny set of instructions that takes over a factory to make copies of itself.

   A virus is far too small to see without a powerful microscope.

   The virus enters a cell and forces it to make copies.

   UsageThe plural is viruses (not incorrect: virii).

   Note
2. 2
   illnessnouncolloquialmetonymicallycountable or uncountable

   An illness you get from a virus, such as a cold or the flu.

   She caught a nasty virus and was off work all week.

   There's a virus going around the school right now.

   UsageYou catch a virus.

   Similarbug, infection

3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A harmful computer program that copies itself into other files and spreads between computers, often causing damage.

   Like a cold that spreads from one person to another, except it spreads between computers.

   A virus deleted half the files on his laptop overnight.

   Always scan email attachments, because a virus can hide inside them.

   UsageSay computer virus if people might think of an illness.

   Note
4. 4
   spreading harmnounfigurativelycountable or uncountable

   Anything harmful that spreads from one person or place to another.

   Online, a single cruel rumor becomes a virus that no one can stop.

   He warned that fear was a virus moving quickly through the crowd.

   UsageBad things often spread like a virus.

   Similarcancer, plague, contagion, poison, disease

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