: a virus (such as a paramyxovirus or a retrovirus) whose genome consists of RNA
Word History
First Known Use
1963, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
RNA virus
noun
: a virus (as a paramyxovirus or a retrovirus) whose genome consists of RNA
Hepatitis C remains largely a mystery; it is one of the RNA viruses, which are less well understood than are DNA viruses, and it has defied efforts to grow it in a test tube. Nancy Shute, U.S. News & World Report