— virtuality , n.
/verr"chooh euhl/ , adj.
1. being such in power, force, or effect, though not actually or expressly such: a virtual dependence on charity.
2. Optics.
a. noting an image formed by the apparent convergence of rays geometrically, but not actually, prolonged, as the image formed by a mirror (opposed to real ).
b. noting a focus of a system forming virtual images.
3. temporarily simulated or extended by computer software: a virtual disk in RAM; virtual memory on a hard disk.
[ 1350-1400; ME virtualis, equiv. to L virtu ( s ) VIRTUE + -alis -AL 1 ]