[ 'vɪrʊl(ə)nt , 'vɪrjʊ- ]
■ adjective
1》 (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.
↘(of a pathogen, especially a virus) highly infective.
2》 bitterly hostile.
Derivatives
virulence noun
~ly adverb
Origin
ME (orig. describing a poisoned wound): from L. ~us , from virus (see virus ).