vir·u·lent (vîr'yə-lənt, vîr'ə-) adj.
[Middle English, from Latin vīrulentus, from vīrus, poison.] vir'u·lence, vir'u·len·cy n., vir'u·lent·ly adv. |
The capacity of a pathogen, such as a microorganism or toxin, to produce disease.
Note: “Virulent” substances or organisms are extremely pathogenic or toxic.
virulence vir·u·lence (vēr'yə-ləns, vēr'ə-)
n.
The quality of being poisonous.
The capacity of a microorganism to cause disease.