herpesvirus

noun

her·​pes·​vi·​rus ˌhər-(ˌ)pēz-ˈvī-rəs How to pronounce herpesvirus (audio)
: any of a family (Herpesviridae) of double-stranded DNA viruses that include the cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus and the causative agents of chicken pox, herpes simplex, Marek's disease, roseola infantum, and shingles

Examples of herpesvirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The other flavor has tails and primarily infects bacteria and archaea but also contains the herpesvirus family, which infects animals. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 25 Apr. 2023 Low levels of human adenovirus and human herpesvirus 6 were found in the liver in most cases, which the authors similarly speculate enabled AAV2 replication and liver damage. Janelle Chavez, CNN, 30 Mar. 2023 The herpesvirus is a DNA virus (remember those? Nina Shapiro, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021 Chickens, for example, routinely get vaccinated for Marek’s disease, which caused by a herpesvirus. Jen Christensen, CNN, 10 Mar. 2023 It’s a herpesvirus, one of the group that causes herpes, chickenpox, and glandular fever in humans. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 12 July 2012 The herpesvirus is probably not a good way to go in people. Dan Hurley, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2012 Nearly all of us contract a herpesvirus during our lives, via nonsexual spread. Benjamin Mazer, The Atlantic, 17 Aug. 2022 Urogenital carcinoma, present in a quarter of sea lions necropsied in California, is definitively caused by a herpesvirus. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of herpesvirus was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near herpesvirus

Cite this Entry

“Herpesvirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herpesvirus. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

herpesvirus

noun
her·​pes·​vi·​rus ˌhər-(ˌ)pēz-ˈvī-rəs How to pronounce herpesvirus (audio)
: any of a group of viruses that contain DNA and cause herpes

Medical Definition

herpesvirus

noun
her·​pes·​vi·​rus -ˈvī-rəs How to pronounce herpesvirus (audio)
: any of a family Herpesviridae of double-stranded DNA viruses

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