Definition of virulence in English:
virulence
noun ˈvɪrʊl(ə)nsˈvɪrjʊl(ə)nsˈvɪr(j)ələns
mass noun1The severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
the proportion of birds which die depends on the virulence of the virus
Example sentencesExamples
- In the late 1870s, the Royal Navy refused to visit, because of the virulence of venereal infection there.
- Their work may help other scientists who are investigating the virulence of other major food-borne pathogens.
- Some of the new genes may contribute to the organism's virulence.
- Pasteur's breakthrough with the principle of attenuating viruses—reducing their virulence—came in 1876.
- The leishmania genes that determine virulence will be identified.
2Bitter hostility; rancour.
he was clearly pained by the virulence of the attacks
Example sentencesExamples
- The virulence of sectarianism there remains a major threat to the newly devolved institutions.
- Even the wording of the wedding invitation has stirred up interfamilial virulence.
- What's interesting is the virulence of opinion on the opposing sides.
- You wonder why Sartre at the age of 50, when he wrote the book, must attack his childhood with such virulence.
- I was startled by the severity and virulence with which he delivered the sentence at the end of the trial.
Definition of virulence in US English:
virulence
nounˈvɪr(j)ələnsˈvir(y)ələns
1The severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison.
the proportion of birds which die depends on the virulence of the virus
Example sentencesExamples
- Their work may help other scientists who are investigating the virulence of other major food-borne pathogens.
- Some of the new genes may contribute to the organism's virulence.
- In the late 1870s, the Royal Navy refused to visit, because of the virulence of venereal infection there.
- The leishmania genes that determine virulence will be identified.
- Pasteur's breakthrough with the principle of attenuating viruses—reducing their virulence—came in 1876.
2Bitter hostility; rancor.
he was clearly pained by the virulence of the attacks
Example sentencesExamples
- What's interesting is the virulence of opinion on the opposing sides.
- The virulence of sectarianism there remains a major threat to the newly devolved institutions.
- Even the wording of the wedding invitation has stirred up interfamilial virulence.
- I was startled by the severity and virulence with which he delivered the sentence at the end of the trial.
- You wonder why Sartre at the age of 50, when he wrote the book, must attack his childhood with such virulence.