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Glite Dictionary
viricide

viricide

9.9
A substance that kills viruses on surfaces
  • noun
  • /ˈvɪrɪˌsaɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : viricida
  • Researchers are studying a new viricide that could help combat the spread of influenza.

Examples

  • The pharmaceutical company developed a potent viricide that effectively targets and eliminates harmful viruses.

  • Using a safe viricide in agricultural practice can help prevent viral infections in crops.

  • Although perhaps hardly a forgotten masterpiece, La reina Juana's incorporation of these elements into its daring treatment of husband-murder, or viricide, at the very least recommends the play for further consideration.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

antiviral drug
vsviricide
  • Specialized
4 3.7

A medicine that stops viruses from growing in the body

focuses on inactivating or destroying viruses rather than treating infections
antiviral agent
vsviricide
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A substance like a medicine that stops a virus growing or kills it

focuses on directly inactivating or destroying viruses rather than inhibiting growth
virucide
vsviricide
  • Specialized
8.2

A substance that kills viruses or makes them stop working

is the same in meaning but differs only in spelling

Surface Forms

viricide singular
viricides plural

Morphology

viricide = virus (semi-transparent) = virus + cide

The meaning is compositionally related to 'virus' plus the learned suffix '-cide' ('killer'), but the suffix is technical rather than everyday vocabulary.

Etymology

The word viricide comes from virus ('virus') and the ending -cide ('to kill'), the same ending in common words like pesticide and homicide. So a viricide is something that 'kills' or destroys viruses.