herpes virus
1
3.9
- noun
- /ˈhɜrpiːz ˈvaɪrəs/
- Specialized
:
virus del herpes
- Many people have experienced cold sores caused by the herpes virus at some point in their lives.
- herpes virus caused
Examples
-
This was the first cancer shown to be caused by a herpes virus.
Academic text (2003) -
It is one of several cattle diseases caused by a herpes virus, and it is often fatal.
Academic text (1994) -
In fact, studies have demonstrated that the herpes virus acts synergistically with tobacco to produce oral cancer in animals.
Academic text (2006) -
This is only the second time an animal virus has been described to have a gene like this; the first is in Epstein-Barr virus, a human herpes virus.
Academic text (1996) -
In 1967, ARS researchers discovered that a herpes virus caused Marek's disease in poultry.
Academic text (2003) -
The herpes virus can lead to painful blisters on the skin and mucous membranes.
-
Studies show that the herpes virus is highly prevalent, affecting millions worldwide.
Synonyms
14
4.5
A virus that causes painful blisters on the skin, often near the mouth or genitals
1
4.9
A virus that causes infections like cold sores, chickenpox, or shingles
A virus that causes painful blisters on the mouth or private parts
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is transparently compositional: 'herpes' names the disease/virus type and 'virus' denotes a microscopic infectious agent, so the phrase simply refers to viruses of the herpes family. The 'X virus' construction is a regular, cross-linguistic modifier + noun pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Herpes virus comes from the Greek word herpes meaning 'to creep', because the small 'blisters' the infection makes often seem to move along the skin or come back later. That's why the name herpes virus is used for viruses that cause these painful skin or mouth blisters.