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

Example Sentences

Moderna fell 3.9% after saying it would stop development of a vaccine designed to prevent birth defects caused by cytomegalovirus, or CMV, once among its most-watched experimental programs.

From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025

Fluffy white clouds and red hemorrhages, the work of cytomegalovirus, bloomed across patients’ retinas until they went blind.

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2025

In a human clinical study involving 68 patients, the team explored around 700 T cells that specifically interacted with antigens from either SARS-CoV-2, influenza, or cytomegalovirus.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2023

The team checked for other infections, such as cytomegalovirus, but only EBV had a crystal clear connection with the neurodegenerative disease.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2022

But to be sure Epstein-Barr was the culprit, Ascherio and his colleagues also measured antibodies against cytomegalovirus, another herpesvirus, and found no difference in levels in those who developed MS and those who did not.

From Scientific American • Jan. 13, 2022