cytomegalovirus

American  

[sahy-toh-meg-uh-loh-vahy-ruhs] / ˌsaɪ toʊˌmɛg ə loʊˈvaɪ rəs /

noun

cytomegaloviruses plural

1. a common virus of the herpesvirus family, usually harmless or causing mild colds but capable of producing severe systemic damage in infected newborns and immunosuppressed persons. CMV

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cytomegalovirus British  

/ ˌsaɪtəʊˈmɛɡələʊˌvaɪrəs /

noun

1.  CMV.  a virus of the herpes virus family that may cause serious disease in patients whose immune systems are compromised

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cytomegalovirus Scientific  

/ sī′tə-mĕg′ə-lō-vī′rəs /

1. Any of a group of herpes viruses of the genus Cytomegalovirus that cause enlargement and abnormal structures in the cell nucleus (known as nuclear inclusions) in infected cells. Although the virus usually causes minor or no symptoms in normal adults, it is a common cause of opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients and can cause life-threatening congenital infections.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• cytomegaloviruses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cytomegalovirus

1960–65; cytomegal(ia) ( see cytomegalic) + -o- + virus