virus
/ˈvaɪərəs/noun
1- an infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host病毒：
as modifier a virus infection.病毒感染。
1.1
- informal an infection or disease caused by such an agent〈非正式〉病毒感染; 病毒病。
1.2
- figurative a harmful or corrupting influence〈喻〉有害影响, 毒害：
the virus of cruelty that is latent in all human beings.
潜伏在所有人身上的残忍性。
1.3
- （亦作computer virus）a piece of code which is capable of copying itself and typically has a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data（计算机）病毒。
词源
late Middle English (denoting the venom of a snake)： from Latin， literally 'slimy liquid， poison'. The earlier medical sense， superseded by the current use as a result of improved scientific understanding， was 'a substance produced in the body as the result of disease， especially one that is capable of infecting others with the same disease'.