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