vi
rus
Plural
viruses
1
a microscopic agent that causes disease in people, animals, and plants
- A virus entered his body and made him sick.
- Some viruses are deadly, while others are mild.
- The doctor said it was a virus, so antibiotics wouldn't help.
- Viruses can be spread through coughing and sneezing.
- Washing your hands can help prevent the spread of viruses.
2
a harmful program capable of multiplying itself and corrupting files and not allowing a system, like that of a computer, to function properly
- The virus damaged important system files.
- He installed antivirus software to remove the virus.
- A dangerous virus spread through email attachments.
- The virus slowed down the entire computer network.
- Hackers used a virus to steal personal data.
Synonyms:
3
a harmful or corrupting agency