virulent
Use Virulent in a sentence
yə adjective
1.
actively poisonous; intensely noxious: a virulent insect bite.
2.
Medicine/Medical. highly infective; malignant or deadly.
3.
Bacteriology. causing clinical symptoms.
4.
violently or spitefully hostile.
5.
intensely bitter, spiteful, or malicious: a virulent attack.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English verulent < Latin vīrulentus, equivalent to vīr(us) poison (see virus) + -ulentus -ulent
1350–1400; Middle English verulent < Latin vīrulentus, equivalent to vīr(us) poison (see virus) + -ulentus -ulent
Related forms
vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
hy·per·vir·u·lent, adjective
hy·per·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
non·vir·u·lent, adjective
non·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
su·per·vir·u·lent, adjective
su·per·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
un·vir·u·lent, adjective
un·vir·u·lent·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. venomous. 5. vicious, acerbic.
1. venomous. 5. vicious, acerbic.
Antonyms
1. harmless.
1. harmless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To virulent
00:10
Virulent
is an SAT word you need to know.
So is idyll. Does it mean:
| a poem or prose composition, usually describing pastoral scenes or events or any charmingly simple episode, appealing incident, or the like. |
| friendly, agreeable; fond of feasting, drinking, and merry company |
Collins
World English Dictionary
virulent (ˈvɪrʊlənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | a. (of a microorganism) extremely infective |
| b. (of a disease) having a rapid course and violent effect | |
| 2. | extremely poisonous, injurious, etc |
| 3. | extremely bitter, hostile, etc |
| [C14: from Latin vīrulentus full of poison, from vīrus poison; see | |
| 'virulently | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
virulent
1400, in ref. to wounds, ulcers, etc., "full of corrupt or poisonous matter," from L. virulentus "poisonous," from virus "poison" (see virus). Fig. sense of "violent, spiteful" is attested from 1607.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
virulent vir·u·lent (vēr'yə-lənt, vēr'ə-)
adj.
Extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous. Used of a disease or toxin.
Capable of causing disease by breaking down protective mechanisms of the host. Used of a pathogen.
Intensely irritating, obnoxious, or harsh.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
Fortunately, these poorly differentiated, clinically virulent cancers are relatively uncommon.
Spring water can be virulent, so boil all water before drinking.
On good days, her virulent negativity was channeled into wit.
Their severity typically reflects the level of development: the more squalid a country, the more virulent the cholera.
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