Etymology From Middle English virus, from Latin vīrus (“poison, slime, venom”), via rhotacism from Proto-Italic *weizos, from Proto-Indo-European *wisós (“fluidity, slime, poison”). First use in the computer context by David Gerrold in his 1972 book When HARLIE Was One.
A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and that sometimes 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.2001, Leslie Iversen, Drugs: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, page 64:
Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola.2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 193:
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A species thereof.
Meronym: virion (individual particle)
Some viruses, such as norovirus, cause sporadic outbreaks of gastroenteritis.
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An individual particle thereof: synonym of virion.
Occasionally proscribed
Under electron microscopy, a few viruses were seen floating near the cells.
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A quantity of such infectious agents, considered en masse.
Not much virus was detectable on a nucleic acid test; the viral load was very low.
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.2006, Norman E. Borlaug, Anthony Cunningham, Jane I. Guyer, Hans R. Herren, Calestous Juma, Akinlawon Mabogunje, Barbara Underwood, Montague Yudelman, chapter 1, in Lost Crops of Africa: Volume 2: Vegetables (U.S. National Research Council Consensus Study Report) (non-fiction), Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, →DOI, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, archived from the original on 02 Sep 2021, page xviii:
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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.
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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.1890, Aluísio Azevedo, The Slum:
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Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences 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.
Wait a minute! Is this one of those virus emails?!2004 November 15, Michael Chapman; Matthew Chapman, “Strong Bad Email #118: virus”, in Homestar Runner, spoken by Strong Bad (Matthew Chapman):
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.2011, Pat Mesiti, The $1 Million Reason to Change Your Mind:
Etymology From Middle English virus, from Latin vīrus (“poison, slime, venom”), via rhotacism from Proto-Italic *weizos, from Proto-Indo-European *wisós (“fluidity, slime, poison”). First use in the computer context by David Gerrold in his 1972 book When HARLIE Was One.
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Nonstandard, Rare To send or infect an electronic device with a computer virus.
I'm just going to virus anyone who tries cheating on this game.