vir·u·lent (vîr
y
-lnt, vîr-)
adj.
1.
a. Extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous. Used of a disease or toxin.
b. Capable of causing disease by breaking down protective mechanisms of the host. Used of a pathogen.
2. Bitterly hostile or antagonistic; hateful: virulent criticism. See Synonyms at poisonous.
3. Intensely irritating, obnoxious, or harsh.
[Middle English, from Latin v
rulentus, from vrus, poison.]
viru·lence, viru·len·cy n.
viru·lent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
virulent [vir-yew-lent]
Adjective
1. extremely bitter or hostile
2.
a. (of a microorganism) very infectious
b. (of a disease) having a violent effect
3. extremely poisonous or harmful: the most virulent poison known to man [Latin virulentus full of poison]
virulence n
