paramyxovirus

noun

para·​myxo·​vi·​rus ˌper-ə-ˈmik-sə-ˌvī-rəs How to pronounce paramyxovirus (audio)
ˌpa-rə-
plural paramyxoviruses
: any of a family (Paramyxoviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that include the parainfluenza viruses and the causative agents of canine distemper, measles, mumps, Newcastle disease, and rinderpest

Note: Respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus were formerly identified as paramyxoviruses but are now classified as pneumoviruses.

Examples of paramyxovirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Bay Area residents should keep their pets away from wildlife, officials said, as the disease can spread through dogs unvaccinated against the paramyxovirus that causes it. Kellie Hwang, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2022 But tests for everything from adenoviruses to paramyxoviruses came back negative. Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, 28 Apr. 2020 In one such study, his team discovered that mumps, which like measles is caused by a paramyxovirus, had jumped to humans from bats. Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, 28 Apr. 2020 Wild animals could be used as bioterrorist weapons to spread infectious diseases such as monkeypox, which can be fatal for humans, or avian paramyxovirus, a disease carried by exotic birds that can spread to poultry. National Geographic, 26 Feb. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paramyxovirus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paramyxovirus was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near paramyxovirus

Cite this Entry

“Paramyxovirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramyxovirus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

paramyxovirus

noun
para·​myxo·​vi·​rus ˌpar-ə-ˈmik-sə-ˌvī-rəs How to pronounce paramyxovirus (audio)
: any of the family Paramyxoviridae of single-stranded RNA viruses that include the parainfluenza viruses and the causative agents of canine distemper, measles, mumps, Newcastle disease, and rinderpest

Note: Respiratory syncytial virus and metapneumovirus were formerly identified as paramyxoviruses but are now classified as pneumoviruses.

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