coronavirus

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noun co·ro·na·vi·rus \ kə-ˈrō-nə-ˌvī-rəs \

Definition of coronavirus

:any of a family (Coronaviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that have a lipid envelope studded with club-shaped projections, infect birds and many mammals including humans, and include the causative agents of MERS and SARS

Recent Examples of coronavirus from the Web

In 2012, MERS coronavirus emerged from Saudi Arabia, stirring our concerns.

— National Geographic, "Why Zika Is This Year’s Scary Virus," 28 Jan. 2016
With luck, this novel coronavirus will remain a blip, and not an outbreak, and public health will be granted some time to think these issues through.

— maryn mckenna, WIRED, "The New Coronavirus: Uncertainty, and How to Talk About It," 17 Oct. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coronavirus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of coronavirus

New Latin, from corona + virus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1968

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

coronavirus

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noun co·ro·na·vi·rus \ kə-ˈrō-nə-ˌvī-rəs \

medical Definition of coronavirus

Coronaviruses can cause a variety of illnesses in animals, but in people coronaviruses cause one-third of common colds and sometimes respiratory infections in premature infants.
—Rob Stein, The Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2003

—abbreviation CoV