computer virus
16
3.5
- noun
- /kəmˈpjuːtər ˈvaɪrəs/
- Specialized
:
virus informático
- The technicians worked tirelessly to remove the computer virus that had corrupted the system.
Examples
-
Who is the guy who sent you the computer virus?
-
Well, as we all know, there are lots of computer viruses on the internet.
Blog text (23) -
They planted a computer virus.
-
A computer virus is a software program written with malicious intent.
Academic text (2006) -
For the first time in the history of cyber warfare, a computer virus was able to spy on and actually alter a SCADA, or Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system, in real time.
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After opening an email attachment, the employee discovered a computer virus had infected his computer.
-
Many users are now aware of the dangers posed by a computer virus and are taking precautions to protect their data.
Synonyms
137
3.3
A harmful computer program that copies itself and can damage files
43
4.3
Programs that harm computers or let someone access them without permission
A program that attaches to files and spreads to other computers
Software that harms computers, for example by stealing data
Antonyms
How Harmful
- Specialized
8
7.9
- Specialized
26
7.4
- Texting
- Specialized
16
3.5
- Specialized
21
4.8
- Specialized
2
4.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: a virus (an agent that infects or replicates) applied to a computer (an electronic device) yields malicious software that spreads on computers. This noun‑noun combination follows a straightforward, cross‑linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Computer virus comes from a simple picture: like a virus in the body that 'infects' cells, a small program can copy itself into other files and 'spread' through a computer, often causing 'damage'. So, computer virus means a harmful program that copies itself and damages data.