virion

vi·ri·on   (vī'rē-ŏn', vîr'ē-)    n.  A complete viral particle, consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell and constituting the infective form of a virus. [vir(us) + -on1.]

Main Entry: vi·ri·on
Pronunciation: 'vI-rE-"än, 'vir-E-
Function: noun
: a complete virus particle that consists of an RNA or DNA corewith a protein coat sometimes with external envelopes and that is the extracellular infective form of a virus

virion vi·ri·on (vī'rē-ŏn', vēr'ē-)
n.
A complete viral particle, consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell and constituting the infective form of a virus.

virion   (vī'rē-ŏn', vîr'ē-)  Pronunciation Key  A complete viral particle, consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell and constituting the infective form of a virus. The shell, called a capsid, protects the interior core that includes the genome and other proteins. After the virion binds to the surface of a specific host cell, its DNA or RNA is injected into the host cell and viral replication occurs with eventual spread of the infection to other host cells.