viroid

noun

vi·​roid ˈvī-ˌrȯid How to pronounce viroid (audio)
: any of two families (Pospiviroidae and Avsunviroidae) of subviral particles that consist of a small single-stranded RNA arranged in a closed loop without a protein shell and that replicate in their host plants where they may or may not be pathogenic

Examples of viroid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Given the ubiquity of viroids in the plant world, finding something similar in bacteria makes perfect sense, says Hefferon, who studies disease-causing viroids in commercial crops such as potatoes. Joanna Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Feb. 2024 Like viruses, viroids reproduce by invading healthy cells and reprogramming them to duplicate the viroid’s genetic makeup instead of the cell’s own. Daniel E. Slotnik, New York Times, 8 May 2023 For now, the problem of the hop latent viroid has largely fallen to growers themselves. Dan Adams, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Dec. 2022 The agency has also found diseases known to occur in China, called pospiviroid and spindle tuber viroid, in seeds, as well as a few pests of significance: an immature wasp and a larval seed beetle. Jon Emont and Jesse Newman, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2020

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

Word History

Etymology

vir(us) + -oid entry 1

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of viroid was in 1971

Dictionary Entries Near viroid

Cite this Entry

“Viroid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viroid. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

viroid

1 of 2 noun
vi·​roid ˈvī-ˌrȯid How to pronounce viroid (audio)
1
: a hypothetical symbiont resembling a virus that was formerly held to be present in cells, to be favorable to the host, and to tend to mutate to a virus
2
: any of two families (Pospiviroidae and Avsunviroidae) of subviral particles that consist of a small single-stranded RNA arranged in a closed loop without a protein shell and that replicate in their host plants where they may or may not be pathogenic

viroid

2 of 2 adjective
1
: caused by a virus
viroid pneumonia
2
: of or relating to viroids

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