English Dictionary

virus

/ˈvaɪɹəs/

noun

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; such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms.

The virus spread rapidly throughout the population.

意味（1）

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; such agents are often classed as nonliving infectious particles and less often as microorganisms.

Viruses are the smallest and most simplified forms of life.

意味（2）

(uncountable) A quantity of such infectious agents

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.

意味（3）

(informal, metonymically) A disease caused by such an infectious agent; a viral illness.

He's got a virus and had to stay home from school.

意味（4）

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

Brazil, that inferno where every budding flower and every buzzing bluebottle fly bears a lascivious virus.

意味（5）

(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.

意味（6）

(computing, proscribed) Any type of malware.

意味（7）

(figuratively) Any malicious or dangerous entity that spreads from one place or person to another.

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.