virus
UK: ˈvaɪrəs | US: ˈvaɪrəs
n. a microscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside living cells
n. (computing) a malicious program designed to spread between computers
n. (figurative) a harmful or corrupting influence
The word "virus" traces back to Latin virus, meaning "poison," "slime," or "venom." Originally describing a toxic substance, its meaning evolved in the late 19th century to denote infectious pathogens after the discovery of microscopic agents causing disease. The computing sense emerged in the 1970s by analogy to biological viruses, as malicious code "infects" systems. The Latin root reflects ancient observations of contagion and decay, linking physical and metaphorical harm.
The flu is caused by a highly contagious virus.
She installed antivirus software to protect her computer.
Fake news spreads like a virus on social media.
Scientists are studying the virus's mutation patterns.
The corruption scandal acted as a virus within the organization.