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herpesvirus

American  
[hur-peez-vahy-ruhs] / ˈhɜr pizˌvaɪ rəs /

noun

plural

herpesviruses
  1. a DNA-containing virus of the family Herpesviridae, certain members of which cause such diseases in humans as oral and genital herpes, infectious mononucleosis, chickenpox, and shingles.


herpesvirus British  
/ ˈhɜːpiːzˌvaɪrəs /

noun

  1. any one of a family of DNA-containing viruses that includes the agents causing herpes, the Epstein-Barr virus, and the cytomegalovirus

"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

Etymology

Origin of herpesvirus

First recorded in 1920–25; from New Latin; see origin at herpes, 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.

In addition to asking “Who?” a lot, Sherman pointed out the awkward fact that Flaco’s autopsy indicated that the owl had a severe pigeon herpesvirus when it died.

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2024

These results define the mechanisms of action of interferon treatments for herpesvirus diseases and other treatments such as toll-like receptor ligands that have been tested for herpes, the researchers said.

From Science Daily • Dec. 15, 2023

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

EBV, a herpesvirus that infects most people by adolescence and then lies latent in B cells throughout life, has long been a prime suspect.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 12, 2022

Herpes Zoster   Varicella-zoster virus: A herpesvirus that causes chickenpox and   shingles.

From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Ritter, Thomas Jefferson