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adenovirus

American  
[ad-n-oh-vahy-ruhs] / ˌæd n oʊˈvaɪ rəs /

noun

plural

adenoviruses
  1. any of a group of DNA viruses that cause eye and respiratory diseases.


adenovirus British  
/ ˌædɪnəʊˈvaɪrəs /

noun

  1. any of a group of viruses that can cause upper respiratory diseases in man Compare enterovirus myxovirus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adenovirus Scientific  
/ ăd′n-ō-vīrəs /
  1. Any of a group of DNA-containing viruses of the family Adenoviridae that commonly cause conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis, and respiratory infections such as colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia in humans.


Other Word Forms

  • adenoviral adjective

Etymology

Origin of adenovirus

First recorded in 1955–60; adeno- + virus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This method of antigen design and adenovirus delivery closely mirrors the approach used for the COVID-19 nasal vaccine.

From Science Daily • Feb. 4, 2026

Lukashenko, sounding hoarse, told a meeting on health issues that he had been suffering from an adenovirus, which is a common cold virus.

From Reuters • May 23, 2023

In several early studies, scientists found that many of the affected children were infected with adenoviruses, particularly adenovirus 41, which typically causes gastrointestinal symptoms.

From New York Times • Mar. 30, 2023

The adenovirus vectors used in the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine were also previously researched for gene therapy.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 30, 2022

In healthy adults and children, though, RSV typically presents as a common cold, with symptoms similar to those caused by other “common cold” viruses, such as rhinovirus, adenovirus and a couple of common coronaviruses.

From Scientific American • Nov. 4, 2022