Definitions
01biological germ
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Science
n. a tiny living thing that enters your body and can make you sick.
n. a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.
日本語:ウイルス※
“The doctor said my sore throat was caused by a common virus.”
“Researchers are studying how the virus mutates when it moves from animal hosts to human populations.”
02illness
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine Informal
n. a sickness or infection caused by a virus.
n. an illness or medical condition resulting from a viral infection.
“I missed three days of work because of a stomach virus.”
“The school reported a high number of absences this week due to a seasonal respiratory virus circulating among the students.”
03malicious software
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing
n. a harmful computer program that can copy itself and damage your files.
n. a piece of code which is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data.
日本語:ウイルス※
“Never click on suspicious links or you might get a virus on your laptop.”
“The company's security software detected a sophisticated virus that was attempting to encrypt sensitive financial records.”
04harmful influence
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary
n. something bad or dangerous that spreads quickly from person to person.
n. a harmful or corrupting influence that spreads rapidly within a group or society.
“Hatred can spread like a virus through a community.”
“The orator warned that misinformation was a virus threatening the very foundations of their democratic institutions.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “virus” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents, with people infected by breathing in air contaminated with virus particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.” “They now believe that SARS-CoV-2 will not only remain with us as an endemic virus, continuing to circulate in communities, but will likely cause a significant burden of illness and death for years to come.” “The findings indicate that the virus, when transmitted via droplets from a cough or sneeze, remains viable in aerosol form for at least three hours.” “If all viruses disappeared, the world would be very different — and not necessarily for the better.” Etymology
From Middle English virus, from Latin vīrus (“poison, slime, venom”), via rhotacism from Proto-Italic weizos, from Proto-Indo-European wisós (“fluidity, slime, poison”). First use in the computer context by David Gerrold in his 1972 book When HARLIE Was One.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/virus
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0