n.
Pronunciation: ' vir- ə -l ə n(t)s, ' vir-y ə -
Function: noun
Date: 1621
: the quality or state of being virulent: as a : extreme bitterness or malignity of temper : RANCOR b : MALIGNANCY , VENOMOUSNESS <ameliorate the virulence of a disease> c : the relative capacity of a pathogen to overcome body defenses