In computer technology, a virus is a program that introduces itself into a system, altering or destroying the information stored in the system.
[computing]
Hackers are said to have started a computer virus.
virus in British English
(ˈvaɪrəs)
nounWord forms: plural-ruses
1.
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
2. informal
a disease caused by a virus
3.
any corrupting or infecting influence
4. computing
an unauthorized program that inserts itself into a computer system and then propagates itself to other computers via networks or disks; when activated it interferes with the operation of the computer
Derived forms
virus-like (ˈvirus-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin: slime, poisonous liquid; related to Old English wāse marsh, Greek ios poison
virus in American English
(ˈvaɪrəs)
noun
1. Obsolete
venom, as of a snake
2.
a.
any of a kingdom (Virus) of prokaryotes, usually ultramicroscopic, that consist of nucleic acid, either RNA or DNA, within a case of protein: they infect animals, plants, and bacteria and reproduce only within living cells: viruses are considered as being either living organismsor inert chemicals
b.
a disease caused by a virus
3.
anything that corrupts or poisons the mind or character; evil or harmful influence
4.
an unauthorized, disruptive set of instructions placed in a computer program, that leaves copies of itself in other programs and disks
Word origin
L, a slimy liquid, poison < IE base *weis-, to flow (used of foul or malodorous fluids) > ooze2, weasel, Gr ios, poison
Examples of 'virus' in a sentence
virus
The vast majority of coughs are caused by winter viruses.
The Sun (2017)
It targets the viruses that cause the bug before the symptoms worsen and engulf you.
The Sun (2017)
Some simple viruses can cause coughs that end up going way beyond the three-week average.
The Sun (2017)
The virus was also detected at a chicken farm in the west of Vendée.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are about 200 forms of the cold virus, and flu is caused by a different group of viruses.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The presence of the virus was detected after his arrival here.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Thus drugs capable of damaging viruses can damage the body cells as well.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
The thought of wild birds bringing a mysterious and deadly virus to these shores is not pleasant.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Probably two thirds of us will encounter the flu virus but only a third will get symptoms.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Older plants are likely to have virus diseases.
The Sun (2008)
Perhaps we are not so dissimilar from germs and viruses.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Or maybe the computer had a virus.
The Sun (2013)
The usual cause is a virus and it typically clears within a week or two.
The Sun (2012)
But it is the only virus capable of invading arteries in the brain.
The Sun (2009)
The potentially deadly virus is spread via blood and damages the liver.
The Sun (2016)
Online criminals target computers using viruses that record debit and credit card details.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or tonsillitis.
The Sun (2013)
The apparent change means patients are more likely to pass on the deadly virus.
The Sun (2014)
Also that year there were scary stories predicting that some flu vaccines might claim more lives than the flu virus.
The Sun (2011)
The virus was first detected last June.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That's too quick for the natural course of a virus disease.
Mumby, Keith The Allergy Handbook (1988)
It was the first time the virus had been detected in Austria.
The Sun (2006)
This could rise dramatically if other vaccine makers turned their factories over to the production of a jab against a pandemic flu virus.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
And we have vaccines for almost all of the world's diseases and viruses.
The Sun (2013)
And these germs - unlike viruses - are blasted by antibiotics.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
virus
British English: virus /ˈvaɪrəs/ NOUN
A virus is a kind of germ that can cause disease.
There are many different strains of flu virus.
American English: virus
Arabic: فَيْرُوس
Brazilian Portuguese: vírus
Chinese: 病毒
Croatian: virus
Czech: vir
Danish: virus
Dutch: virus
European Spanish: virus
Finnish: virus
French: virus
German: Virus
Greek: ιός
Italian: virus
Japanese: ウイルス
Korean: 바이러스
Norwegian: virus
Polish: wirus
European Portuguese: vírus
Romanian: virus
Russian: вирус
Latin American Spanish: virus
Swedish: virus
Thai: เชื้อไวรัส
Turkish: virüs
Ukrainian: вірус
Vietnamese: vi-rút
All related terms of 'virus'
HIV virus
human immunodeficiency virus ; the cause of AIDS. Two strains have been identified : HIV-1 and HIV-2
AIDS virus
a variable retrovirus that invades and inactivates helper T cells of the immune system and is a cause of AIDS and AIDS-related complex : variants were identified in several laboratories and independently named lymphadenopathy-associated virus ( LAV ), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 3 ( HTLV-3 ), and AIDS-related virus ( ARV ), the name human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) being subsequently proposed by an international taxonomy committee
anti-virus
Anti-virus software is software that protects a computer against viruses .
polio virus
an acute infectious viral disease, esp affecting children. In its paralytic form ( acute anterior poliomyelitis ) the brain and spinal cord are involved, causing weakness , paralysis , and wasting of muscle
slow virus
any of a class of virus-like disease-causing agents known as prions that are present in the body for a long time before becoming active or infectious and are very resistant to radiation and similar factors : believed to be the cause of BSE and scrapie
virus chip
a glass slide embedded with viral DNA used in DNA sequencing to analyse the genetic makeup of viruses
Zika virus
a flavivirus , transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes , that causes a mild fever ( Zika fever ) and is associated with birth defects in humans
Ebola (virus)
an RNA virus (family Filoviridae) that causes fever , internal bleeding , and, often, death
Norwalk virus
a virus which is a common cause of gastroenteritis
computer virus
→ another term for virus (sense 4 )
Coxsackie virus
any of various viruses that occur in the intestinal tract of humans and cause diseases, some of which resemble poliomyelitis
virus infection
An infection is a disease caused by germs or bacteria .
filterable virus
any virus
Epstein-Barr virus
a virus belonging to the herpes family that causes infectious mononucleosis ; it is also implicated in the development of Burkitt's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease
parainfluenza virus
any of a group of viruses that cause respiratory infections with influenza-like symptoms , esp in children
West Nile virus
a virus transmitted from infected birds by the common culex mosquito and causing a form of encephalitis ( West Nile encephalitis or fever ) that is characterized by fever, headache , drowsiness, nausea , and a rash
echovirus
any of a group of viruses that can cause symptoms of mild meningitis , the common cold, or infections of the intestinal and respiratory tracts
Ebola virus disease
a severe infectious disease characterized by fever , vomiting , and internal bleeding
human papilloma virus
any one of a class of viruses that cause tumours , including warts , in humans . Certain strains infect the cervix and have been implicated as a cause of cervical cancer
tobacco mosaic virus
the virus that causes mosaic disease in tobacco and related plants: its discovery in 1892 provided the first evidence of the existence of viruses
Ebola
Ebola is a very serious disease caused by a virus , that causes fever , bleeding inside the body, and usually death .
human immunodeficiency virus
→ HIV
respiratory syncytial virus
a myxovirus causing infections of the nose and throat , esp in young children. It is thought to be involved in some cot deaths
coxsackievirus
any of a group of enteroviruses that cause several diseases, as viral meningitis