Virus Meaning in English

word

US

/ˈvaɪɹəs/

VY-rus

UK

/vˈaɪɹəs/

VY-ruhs

Definition

A virus is a very small living agent that can cause disease in people, animals, or plants. It can also mean a harmful program that infects a computer system.

Usage & Nuances

Most often used for illness in everyday speech, but 'computer virus' is also very common. We usually say 'catch a virus', 'spread a virus', or 'remove a virus'. 'Virus' is countable: 'a virus', 'two viruses'.

• Spanish: virus
• Portuguese (BR): vírus
• Portuguese (PT): vírus
• Chinese (Simplified): 病毒
• Chinese (Traditional): 病毒
• Hindi: वायरस
• Arabic: فيروس
• Bengali: ভাইরাস
• Russian: вирус
• Japanese: ウイルス
• Vietnamese: vi-rút
• Korean: 바이러스
• Turkish: virüs
• Urdu: وائرس
• Indonesian: virus

Example Sentences

The virus spread quickly through the school.

basic

She stayed home because she had a virus.

basic

My computer has a virus.

basic

I think I caught some kind of virus on the flight.

natural

Don't open that file — it might have a virus.

natural

The doctor said it's probably just a virus, not anything serious.

natural