il virus

Definition & meaning

Virus means virus. It can refer to:

• A microscopic infectious agent that reproduces inside living cells.
• A malicious computer program that spreads by infecting files or systems.
• Figuratively, something harmful that spreads rapidly, such as an idea or behavior.

Grammar & Word origin

Virus is a masculine noun: il virus. Its plural has the same form: i virus.

It comes from Latin virus, meaning “poison” or “venom.” The Italian form has no separate meaningful parts.

Synonyms & antonyms

• agente virale ↗ — “viral agent”; a more technical way to refer to a biological virus.
• malware ↗ — a broader term for malicious software; not all malware is a virus.

There is no direct antonym. In computing, antivirus ↗ refers to software that detects or removes viruses, but it is not a true opposite.

Common phrases & collocations

• virus informatico ↗ — computer virus.
• infezione virale ↗ — viral infection.
• contrarre un virus ↗ — to catch a virus.
• diffusione di un virus ↗ — the spread of a virus.