Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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name
An informal genus of the informal family Medusaviridae, large DNA viruses that infect amoeba.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, microbiology, natural-sciences, virology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A giant virus infecting amoebae causing them to shrivel and harden.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, microbiology, natural-sciences, virology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From Ancient Greek Μέδουσα (Médousa, “Medusa”) + virus. From Latin virus (“virus”). From being a virus which can turn amoeba into stone-like cysts. From Medusa, the Greek mythological figure which could petrify people with a glance.
From Ancient Greek Μέδουσα (Médousa, “Medusa”) + -virus. From Latin virus (“virus”). From being a virus which can turn amoeba into stone-like cysts. From Medusa, the Greek mythological figure which could petrify people with a glance.
