 |
|
 |
Virus Definition–noun, plural -rus⋅es. | 1. | an ultramicroscopic (20 to 300 nm in diameter), metabolically inert, infectious agent that replicates only within the cells of living hosts, mainly bacteria, plants, and animals: composed of an RNA or DNA core, a protein coat, and, in more complex types, a surrounding envelope. | | 2. | Informal. a viral disease. | | 3. | a corrupting influence on morals or the intellect; poison. | | 4. | a segment of self-replicating code planted illegally in a computer program, often to damage or shut down a system or network. | |
From Dictionary
Related topics from Britannicavirus
an infectious agent of small size and simple composition that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria. The name is from a Latin word meaning "slimy liquid" or "poison."plant virus
any of a number of agents that can cause plant disease. Plant viruses are of considerable economic importance because many of them infect crop and ornamental plants. Numerous plant viruses are ...
computer virus
a portion of a program code that has been designed to furtively copy itself into other such codes or computer files. It is usually created by a prankster or vandal to effect a nonutilitarian result ...
Epstein-Barr virus
virus of the Herpesviridae family that is the major cause of acute infectious mononucleosis, a common syndrome characterized by fever, sore throat, extreme fatigue, and swollen lymph glands.West Nile virus
virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae, related to viruses that can cause yellow fever and dengue and more closely to viruses that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). ...
papillomavirus
any of a subgroup of viruses belonging to the family Papovaviridae that infect birds and mammals, causing warts (papillomas) and other benign tumours in humans. They are small polygonal viruses ...
bacteriophage
any of a group of viruses that infect bacteria. Bacteriophages were discovered independently by Frederick W. Twort in Great Britain (1915) and Felix d'Herelle in France (1917). D'Herelle coined the ...
trojan
a type of malicious computer software (malware) disguised within legitimate or beneficial programs or files. Once installed on a user's computer system, the trojan allows the malware developer remote ...
cancer
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a type of herpesvirus that is well known for causing mononucleosis. It also contributes to the pathogenesis of four human tumours: the African form of Burkitt lymphoma, ...
cancer
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, areas that have the world's highest incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). This and other epidemiological ...
|
Related topics from Technorati |
|
|
|
|
 |
