virology

vi·rol·o·gy

noun \vī-ˈrä-lə-jē\

Definition of VIROLOGY

: a branch of science that deals with viruses and viral diseases

— vi·ro·log·i·cal \ˌvī-rə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ or vi·ro·log·ic \-jik\ adjective

— vi·ro·log·i·cal·ly \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— vi·rol·o·gist \vī-ˈrä-lə-jist\ noun

Origin of VIROLOGY

New Latin virus + International Scientific Vocabulary -logy

First Known Use: circa 1935

Rhymes with VIROLOGY

andrology, anthology, apology, astrology, biology, bryology, cetology, Christology, chronology, conchology, cosmology, cryptology, cytology, dendrology, doxology, ecology, enology, ethnology, ethology, fetology, garbology, gemology, geology, graphology, haplology, histology, homology, horology, hydrology, hymnology, Indology, limnology, lithology, mixology, morphology, mycology, myology, mythology, necrology, nephrology, neurology, nosology, oncology, ontology, oology, pathology, pedology, penology, petrology, phlebology, phonology, phrenology, phycology, proctology, psychology, scatology, seismology, serology, sexology, sinology, symbology, tautology, technology, tetralogy, theology, topology, trichology, typology, ufology, urology, zoology

vi·rol·o·gy

noun \vī-ˈräl-ə-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; vi·rol·o·gies

Medical Definition of VIROLOGY

: a branch of science that deals with viruses

virology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Branch of microbiology that deals with the study of viruses. Viruses were not closely examined until 1892, when a Russian bacteriologist observed that the agent of tobacco mosaic disease could pass through a filter that did not permit the passage of bacteria. Modern virology began in the early 20th century, when the existence of bacteriophages was discovered. Direct visualization of viruses became possible after the electron microscope was introduced (c. 1940).