any of a large group of minute parasitic entity belonging to a large group entities that are regarded either as the simplest micro-organisms or as extremely complex molecules, typically consist of a protein coat surrounding a core of DNA or RNA, are capable of growth and multiplication only in living cells, and that cause various common diseases in animals and plants
informal a disease caused by a virus
a small program or short code that is deliberately and maliciously inserted into a computer program or system to attack the software by destroying data files, erasing disks, etc
something that poisons the mind or soul
The Government will take all necessary steps to combat the virus of racism
viral adj
virally adv
[Middle English in the sense ‘venom, poison’, from Latin virus slimy liquid, poison, stench]