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| vi·rus [ vrəss ] (plural vi·rus·es) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. submicroscopic parasite: a submicroscopic parasitic particle of a nucleic acid surrounded by protein that can only replicate within a host cell. Viruses are not considered to be independent living organisms.
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2. viral disease: a disease caused by a virus
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3. contagious computer program: a computer program that is part of another and inserts copies of itself, often damaging the integrity of stored data. It travels with the program that contains it.
See also Trojan horse (sense 3) wormv (sense 1)
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4. something that corrupts: something that has a corrupting or poisonous effect, especially on the mind
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| [Late 16th century. < Latin, "poison, venom, medicinal liquid"] |
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