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virus

/ˈvaɪɹəs/

In biological contexts, the word refers to a microscopic agent. In technology, it refers to malicious software. While "viruses" is the standard plural form in modern English, you may occasionally see the Latin-style plural "vira" in very old scientific texts, though this is now rare and generally avoided.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Chloe is in a lecture hall while Eleanor is at home struggling with her tablet.
Eleanor Smith

CHLOE MY SCREEN IS FROZEN I THINK I HAVE A VIRUS

Eleanor Smith
Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith

You probably just clicked a sketchy link again. I'll swing by later to fix it.

💡
The dialogue highlights the generational gap in tech literacy. Eleanor uses all caps, reflecting her struggle with the keyboard, while Chloe uses 'sketchy' (slang for suspicious/low quality) and 'swing by' (phrasal verb meaning to visit briefly), showing a casual, helpful yet slightly exhausted granddaughter persona.

Meanings

noun

An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule enclosed in a protein coat and is capable of multiplying only within living cells.

"The flu virus can mutate rapidly, making it difficult to create a universal vaccine."

noun

A piece of code in a computer that inserts copies of itself into other programs, often with the intent of corrupting data or stealing information.

"The IT department warned staff not to open suspicious email attachments to avoid infecting their workstations with a computer virus."

Related Words

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error