Vi"rus (?), n. [L., a slimy liquid, a poisonous liquid, poison, stench; akin to Gr. &?; poison, Skr. visha. Cf. Wizen, v. i.] 1. (Med.) (a) Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; -- applied to organic poisons. (b) The special contagion, inappreciable to the senses and acting in exceedingly minute quantities, by which a disease is introduced into the organism and maintained there.

&fist; The specific virus of diseases is now regarded as a microscopic living vegetable organism which multiplies within the body, and, either by its own action or by the associated development of a chemical poison, causes the phenomena of the special disease.

2. Fig.: Any morbid corrupting quality in intellectual or moral conditions; something that poisons the mind or the soul; as, the virus of obscene books.

Vi"rus (?), n. [L., a slimy liquid, a poisonous liquid, poison, stench; akin to Gr. &?; poison, Skr. visha. Cf. Wizen, v. i.] 1. (Med.) (a) Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; -- applied to organic poisons. (b) The special contagion, inappreciable to the senses and acting in exceedingly minute quantities, by which a disease is introduced into the organism and maintained there.

&fist; The specific virus of diseases is now regarded as a microscopic living vegetable organism which multiplies within the body, and, either by its own action or by the associated development of a chemical poison, causes the phenomena of the special disease.

2. Fig.: Any morbid corrupting quality in intellectual or moral conditions; something that poisons the mind or the soul; as, the virus of obscene books.

• A core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat that requires a living cell to replicate — often causes disease in the host organism.
  
• A computer virus; often mistakenly used where malware would be the correct word.
  
  Latin
• slime
  
• poison
  

German
• Virus
  

Turkish
• virus (medical)
  
• virus (computer)