- nounviruses (plural noun)
- an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host:"the hepatitis B virus" · "a virus infection"
- an infection or disease caused by a virus:"I've had a virus"
- a harmful or corrupting influence:"the virus of cruelty that is latent in all human beings"
- a piece of code that is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data.
Originlate Middle English (denoting the venom of a snake): from Latin, literally ‘slimy liquid, poison’. The earlier medical sense, superseded by the current use as a result of improved scientific understanding, was ‘a substance produced in the body as the result of disease, especially one capable of infecting others’. - People also ask
Viruses: Definition, Types, Characteristics & Facts - Cleveland Clinic
Learn what viruses are, how they infect hosts and cause diseases, and what types of viruses exist. Find out how viruses reproduce, how they are classified and how they can be treated. See more
Viruses can look very different from each other. Scientists often described them by shape. Types of virus shapes include: 1. Icosahedral or … See more
The information stored in the virus — its genetic material — is either DNA or RNA. DNA is like the instruction manual for how to build the virus. RNA is like the translation of the instructions in a language that the cell machinery can read and make into … See more
All viruses are very small — too small to see without a strong microscope. If you measure them under a microscope, most are between 20nm (nanometers) to 400nm. For … See more
The structural proteins of a virus make up the capsid, or protective coating. They can also make up the envelope, if there is one, and any structures that stick out from it that help it enter cells … See more
Virus | Definition, Structure, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 26, 2024 · Virus, infectious agent of small size and simple composition that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria. Viruses possess unique infective properties and thus often cause disease in host organisms. …
Virus - Definition, Structure, Classification, Examples
Aug 25, 2018 · A virus is a chain of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) that lives in a host cell and uses its machinery to reproduce. Learn about the different types of viruses, their structures, how they infect cells, and their evolution.
- What is the definition of a virus?Answered by verified global health professionalsA virus is a tiny germ that can infect living things, like humans, animals, or plants. It’s much smaller than bacteria and can’t grow or reproduce on its own. Instead, a virus needs to enter a living cell to multiply and survive. Once inside, it uses the cell’s machinery to make more copies of itself, often harming or killing the cell in the process.Read moreDr. Pooja M2 years exp · India · MBBS
Virus - Wikipedia
Viruses are found wherever there is life and have probably existed since living cells first evolved. The origin of viruses is unclear because they do not form fossils, so molecular techniques are used to infer how they arose. In addition, viral genetic material occasionally integrates into the germline of the host organisms, by which they can be passed on vertically to the offspring of the host for many generations. This provides an invaluable source of information for paleovirologists to trace …
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- Published: Mar 22, 2001
Virus Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Feb 10, 2013 · The meaning of VIRUS is any of a large group of submicroscopic infectious agents that are usually regarded as nonliving extremely complex molecules, that typically contain a …
Virus - National Human Genome Research Institute
1 day ago · A virus is an infectious microbe consisting of a segment of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat. A virus cannot replicate alone; instead, it must infect cells and use components of the host cell to …
Structure and Classification of Viruses - Medical …
Viruses are small obligate intracellular parasites, which by definition contain either a RNA or DNA genome surrounded by a protective, virus-coded protein coat. Viruses may be viewed as mobile genetic elements, most probably of cellular …
Viruses - National Geographic Society
Oct 19, 2023 · Learn what viruses are, how they replicate, and how they can cause disease or benefit humans. Find out the difference between viruses and bacteria, and the types of viruses and their shapes.
Virus - Definition, Classification, Characteristics, …
Sep 19, 2024 · Viruses are microscopic agents of infection, capable of infecting living organisms from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea. They consist of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, encased in a protein coat. Unlike living …
virus | Learn Science at Scitable - Nature
A virus is a small infectious agent that can only replicate within a host organism. Learn about the diversity of viral genomes, the viral replication process, and the prevention of viral diseases.
