virus
virus
Pronunciation
/ˈvaɪrəs/
Syllable 1: /ˈvaɪ/
/v/: Voiced labiodental fricative
/aɪ/: Diphthong (as in "my")
Syllable 2: /rəs/
/r/: Alveolar approximant
/ə/: Schwa (mid-central vowel)
/s/: Voiceless alveolar fricative
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: virus
Plural Noun: viruses
Adjective: viral (e.g., "a viral infection," "going viral")
Adverb: virally (less common, but can be used, e.g., "spread virally")
Verb: virused (informal, less common, often used in a computing context, e.g., "My computer got virused.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A microscopic infectious agent: A non-living, parasitic entity consisting of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat, which can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses cause various diseases in humans, animals, and plants by hijacking cellular machinery for their own reproduction.
Synonyms: pathogen, germ, microbe, bug (informal)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a specific biological entity. Concepts like "antibiotic" or "vaccine" combat viruses but are not antonyms of the substance itself.)
A malicious computer program: A piece of software code designed to spread from one computer to another and interfere with computer operations. It can corrupt data, destroy files, or generally disrupt system functionality, often without the user's knowledge.
Synonyms: malware, bug, worm, Trojan (Trojan horse)
Antonyms: antivirus (software), firewall
Adjective (Viral)
Relating to or caused by a virus (biological): Pertaining to infections, diseases, or agents that are viral in nature.
Example: "The doctor diagnosed a viral infection."
Synonyms: infectious, contagious, pathogenic
Antonyms: bacterial (as distinct cause), fungal (as distinct cause), healthy (describing the state of being free from such agents)
Spreading rapidly and widely, especially online: Describing content, information, or trends that quickly gain popularity and are shared extensively across the internet and social media.
Example: "The video of the cat playing the piano went viral."
Synonyms: popular, trending, pervasive, widespread, rampant
Antonyms: obscure, unpopular, niche, localized, unknown
Examples of Use
Books
"The Andromeda Strain," by Michael Crichton (1969): This science fiction thriller centers on a deadly extraterrestrial virus that threatens to wipe out humanity. (Crichton, M. The Andromeda Strain).
"Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic," by David Quammen (2012): Quammen explores the science of zoonotic diseases, detailing how animal viruses can jump to humans, leading to pandemics. (Quammen, D. Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic).
Newspapers
"New Strain of Bird Flu Virus Detected in Poultry Farms" (Headline, The New York Times, March 15, 2024): This headline reports on a public health concern, indicating the presence of a new virus strain. (The New York Times).
"Computer Virus Halts Operations at Major Financial Institution" (The Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2025): This article would discuss a cyberattack where a malicious computer virus disrupted critical systems. (The Wall Street Journal).
Online Publications
"Understanding the Latest Variants of the COVID-19 Virus" (Article on WebMD, accessed July 4, 2025): A medical information website provides updates on the evolving nature of the coronavirus. (WebMD).
"How to Protect Your Devices from Ransomware and Other Computer Viruses" (Blog post on a cybersecurity firm's website, May 10, 2025): An online publication offering practical advice against digital threats. (Cybersecurity Blog).
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: "Contagion" (2011): The entire plot revolves around the rapid spread of a novel, highly lethal virus worldwide, and the efforts to develop a vaccine. (Soderbergh, S. Contagion).
Television Series: "The Last of Us" (HBO, 2023): The apocalyptic world of the series is caused by a mutated Cordyceps fungus that behaves like a virus, infecting and transforming humans. (HBO, The Last of Us).
Video Game: "Resident Evil" series (Capcom, various years): The foundational narrative of this horror game franchise involves the "T-virus" and other engineered viruses that create zombies and grotesque mutations. (Capcom, Resident Evil).
Social Media: "That cat video went completely viral!" (Informal comment on TikTok or X, formerly Twitter, 2024): Here, "viral" is used in its extended sense, describing content that spreads rapidly across the platform. (User-generated content on social media).
General Public Discourse
"I heard there's a nasty stomach virus going around at school." (Casual conversation between parents): This demonstrates the common use of "virus" to refer to a general illness.
"Make sure you have good antivirus software; you don't want your computer to catch a virus." (Advice given by a tech-savvy friend): This illustrates the common understanding of a computer virus in everyday language.
"The new song by that artist is going viral on all the streaming platforms." (Discussion among young people about music): This highlights the increasingly common use of "viral" to describe widespread popularity in the digital age.
10 Famous Quotes Using Virus
"The cure for the T-Virus... the cure is right here!" (Albert Wesker, Resident Evil: Degeneration)
"The most dangerous virus is the one that's already in the system." (Frank Herbert, Dune)
"Ideas are like viruses. They can infect you and change the way you think." (Neil Gaiman, The Sandman)
"Ignorance is a far more dangerous virus than any known to man." (Unknown)
"Love is a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time." (Maya Angelou)
"A bad book is a kind of literary virus." (John Fowles)
"Fear is a virus. I will not be infected." (Unknown)
"War is a virus, a disease that has plagued humanity for centuries." (Jiddu Krishnamurti, metaphorical use)
"The only way to deal with a virus is to kill it with fire, or with code." (A common sentiment in cybersecurity discourse, often attributed to various sources)
"Happiness is a contagious virus; it goes around." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "virus" comes from the Latin word "vīrus". In ancient Latin, "vīrus" had a pretty broad and somewhat unpleasant meaning: it referred to "poison," "venom," or any kind of "noxious liquid or substance." Think of it like the venom from a snake or the harmful quality of a bad potion.
So, when the word first entered the English language in the late 14th century (around the 1390s), its meaning was still very much tied to this idea of a poisonous or corrupting fluid. People weren't talking about microscopic organisms yet because they didn't even know they existed!
It was only much, much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as scientific understanding of diseases advanced, that the meaning of "virus" began to narrow down to what we primarily understand today: those tiny, infectious agents that cause illnesses. Scientists discovered that many diseases were caused by something even smaller than bacteria, and they borrowed the old Latin word "virus" because these mysterious agents were, indeed, like a "poison" causing harm to the body.
So, in short:
Original Latin (vīrus): Poison, venom, noxious liquid.
First English use (late 1300s): Same as the Latin – any harmful, poisonous substance or influence.
Modern scientific use (late 1800s/early 1900s): Specifically refers to the microscopic infectious agent, because it acts like a "poison" in the body.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Virus
Go viral: (Very common) To spread rapidly and widely, especially online.
Catch a virus: To become infected with a biological virus (e.g., "I caught a stomach virus") or to have a computer infected by a computer virus.
Virus protection/Antivirus software: Programs designed to prevent or remove computer viruses.
Viral load: (Medical) The amount of a virus in an infected person's body.
A viral outbreak/epidemic/pandemic: A sudden occurrence or widespread incidence of a disease caused by a virus.
Immune to the virus: Figuratively or literally, unaffected by a harmful influence or a biological virus.
The virus of hate/prejudice: (Metaphorical) A harmful idea or feeling that spreads quickly and causes damage.
Spread like a virus: To disseminate very quickly and widely (can be positive or negative, but often negative).
Combat the virus: To fight against the spread or effects of a virus (biological or metaphorical).
A bug in the system: (Using a synonym, "bug," for a computer virus/problem) An error or flaw in a computer system or plan.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of virus from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
