virus

Any of various submicroscopic agents that infect living organisms, often causing disease, and that consist of a single or double strand of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell, viruses are typically not considered living organisms.

A disease caused by a virus.

A computer program or series of commands that can replicate itself and that spreads by inserting copies of itself into other files or programs which users later transfer to other computers. Viruses usually have a harmful effect, as in erasing all the data on a disk.

A harmful or destructive influence.

The contagium of an infectious disease; a poison produced in the body of one suffering from a contagious disease, and capable of exciting the same disease when introduced into another person by inoculation.

Hence Figuratively, that which causes a degraded mental or moral state; moral or intellectual poison: as, the virus of sensuality.

Figuratively, virulence; extreme acrimony or bitterness; malignity.

Contagious or poisonous matter, as of specific ulcers, the bite of snakes, etc.; — applied to organic poisons.

the causative agent of a disease, .