Definition of "virus" []

• Any of various simple submicroscopic parasites of plants, animals, and bacteria that often cause disease and that consist essentially of a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell, viruses are typically not considered living organisms. (noun)
• A disease caused by a virus. (noun)
• Something that poisons one's soul or mind: the pernicious virus of racism. (noun)
• Computer Science A computer virus. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Unfortunately for Google, one of these 427 recepients is a potential spammer, a script kiddie, who sent a malignant mail containing a virus attachment to some Satyendra Sheth, who inturn started speculating that Google (or someone similar) sent him a virus* ..!!"
• "VII were naturally blank-faced idiots before the virus came, or maybe the virus was forced to damage some vital part just in order to fight back -- but it was the _virus_ that was being killed by its own host, not the other way around. ""
• "The virus, a sub-type of Ebola virus [_Ebola Reston virus_ is now ranked as a distinct virus species in the genus"