Word: virus Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weys- Proto-Indo-European *wisós Proto-Italic *weizos Latin vīrusbor. Middle English virus English virus From Middle English virus, from Latin vīrus (“poison, slime, venom”), via rhotacism from Proto-Italic *weizos, from Proto-Indo-European *wisós (“fluidity, slime, poison”). First use in the computer context by David Gerrold in his 1972 book When HARLIE Was One. Pronunciation: /ˈvaɪ.ɹəs/ 1. A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes causes disease in the host organism (such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Viruses are the smallest and most simplified forms of life. Example: Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. 2. A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes causes disease in the host organism (such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Meronym: virion (individual particle) Example: Some viruses, such as norovirus, cause sporadic outbreaks of gastroenteritis. 3. A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes causes disease in the host organism (such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Under electron microscopy, a few viruses were seen floating near the cells. 4. A quantity of such infectious agents, considered en masse. Labels: uncountable Example: Not much virus was detectable on a nucleic acid test; the viral load was very low. Example: Unless professionally inspected, they [plants] may also carry along unseen pests and diseases (particularly small insects and microbes such as virus or bacteria) whose populations might explode catastrophically in new locations. 5. A disease caused by such an infectious agent; a viral illness. Labels: countable, informal, metonymically, uncountable Example: He's got a virus and had to stay home from school. 6. Venom, as produced by a poisonous animal etc. Labels: archaic, countable, uncountable Example: Brazil, that inferno where every budding flower and every buzzing bluebottle fly bears a lascivious virus. 7. 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. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Wait a minute! Is this one of those virus emails?! 8. Any type of malware. Labels: countable, proscribed, uncountable 9. Any malicious or dangerous entity that spreads from one place or person to another. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: I am tired of the mind viruses that are crippling people living in the western world — especially in my own nation. Sadly, Australia is becoming known as a nation of whingers.