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- Dictionaryvi·rus/ˈvīrəs/
noun
- 1. an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host: "the hepatitis B virus"
- 2. a piece of code that is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data.
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Learn the meaning of virus as a noun, with examples of different types and uses of the word. Find out the etymology, history, and related words of virus from the authoritative Merriam-Webster dictionary.
Jun 18, 2024 · A virus is a small infectious agent that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria. Learn about the history, classification, structure, and effects of viruses on humans and the environment.
a hidden set of instructions in a computer program that is intended to introduce faults into a computer system or cause it to perform actions that were not planned. (Definition of virus from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. [1] . Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. [2] [3] Viruses are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth and are the most numerous type of biological entity.
noun. any of a group of submicroscopic entities consisting of a single nucleic acid chain surrounded by a protein coat and capable of replication only within the cells of living organisms: many are pathogenic. informal. a disease caused by a virus. any corrupting or infecting influence.
Aug 25, 2018 · A virus is a chain of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) which lives in a host cell, uses parts of the cellular machinery to reproduce, and releases the replicated nucleic acid chains to infect more cells.
Learn the meaning of virus as a biological or computer term, with examples of usage and pronunciation. Find out how to use virus in different contexts and languages.