Main Entry: vi·ri·on

Pronunciation: \ˈvī-rē-ˌän, ˈvir-ē-\

Function: noun

Etymology: French, from virien viral (from virus virus) + -on ²-on

Date: 1959

: a complete virus particle that consists of an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat sometimes with external envelopes and that is the extracellular infective form of a virus