virus program

virus program
Virus Vi"rus, n. [L., a slimy liquid, a poisonous liquid, poison, stench; akin to Gr. ? poison, Skr. visha. Cf. {Wizen}, v. i.] 1. (Med.) Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; -- applied to organic poisons. [Archaic] [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. the causative agent of a disease, . [obsolescent] [PJC]

3. any of numerous submicroscopic complex organic objects which have genetic material and may be considered as living organisms but have no proper cell membrane, and thus cannot by themselves perform metabolic processes, requiring entry into a host cell in order to multiply. The simplest viruses have no lipid envelope and may be considered as complex aggregates of molecules, sometimes only a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and a coat protein. They are sometimes viewed as being on the borderline between living and nonliving objects. They are smaller than living cells in size, usually between 20 and 300 nm; thus they pass through standard filters, and were previously referred to as {filterable virus}. The manifestations of disease caused by multiplication of viruses in cells may be due to destruction of the cells caused by subversion of the cellular metabolic processes by the virus, or by synthesis of a virus-specific toxin. Viruses may infect animals, plants, or microorganisms; those infecting bacteria are also called {bacteriophages}. Certain bacteriophages may be non-destructive and benign in the host; -- see {bacteriophage}. [1913 Webster +PJC]

4. Fig.: Any morbid corrupting quality in intellectual or moral conditions; something that poisons the mind or the soul; as, the virus of obscene books. [1913 Webster]

5. (Computers) a program or segment of program code that may make copies of itself (replicate), attach itself to other programs, and perform unwanted actions within a computer; also called {computer virus} or {virus program}. Such programs are almost always introduced into a computer without the knowledge or assent of its owner, and are often malicious, causing destructive actions such as erasing data on disk, but sometime only annoying, causing peculiar objects to appear on the display. The form of sociopathic mental disease that causes a programmer to write such a program has not yet been given a name. Compare {trojan horse[3]}. [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Virus — Vi rus, n. [L., a slimy liquid, a poisonous liquid, poison, stench; akin to Gr. ? poison, Skr. visha. Cf. {Wizen}, v. i.] 1. (Med.) Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; applied to organic poisons.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • anti-virus program — noun a computer program that checks a computer for viruses and prevents their spread • Hypernyms: ↑program, ↑programme, ↑computer program, ↑computer programme …   Useful english dictionary

  • anti-virus program — computer program for detecting and destroying computer viruses …   English contemporary dictionary

  • program — I noun 1. a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished (Freq. 106) they drew up a six step plan they discussed plans for a new bond issue • Syn: ↑plan, ↑programme • Derivationally related for …   Useful english dictionary

  • virus scanner — antivirusinė programa statusas T sritis informatika apibrėžtis Programa, aptinkanti ir sunaikinanti ↑kompiuterių virusus. Peržiūri ir tikrina kompiuterio atmintyje esančius ir (arba) į kompiuterį patenkančius duomenis. Aptikusi virusą sunaikina… …   Enciklopedinis kompiuterijos žodynas

  • virus — index disease Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 virus n. A computer program that can co …   Law dictionary

  • virus — VÍRUS, virusuri, s.n. Agent patogen, invizibil cu microscopul obişnuit, care se reproduce numai în interiorul celulelor vii şi provoacă diverse boli infecţioase; p. ext. toxina acestui agent. ♦ fig. Sursă a unui rău moral. [pl. şi: (m.) viruşi].… …   Dicționar Român

  • virus — vi‧rus [ˈvaɪərəs ǁ ˈvaɪrəs] noun [countable] COMPUTING a set of instructions secretly put onto a computer, that can destroy or change information on the computer: • The virus had already destroyed data at several US companies. compare bug * * *… …   Financial and business terms

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