Langimage
English

viral

|vi/ral|

B2

/ˈvaɪrəl/

rapid spread

Etymology
Etymology Information

'viral' originates from the Latin word 'virus', meaning 'poison' or 'slimy liquid'.

Historical Evolution

'virus' transformed into the English word 'viral', used to describe something related to or caused by a virus.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'related to a virus', but over time it evolved to also mean 'rapidly popular on the internet'.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

relating to or caused by a virus.

The viral infection spread quickly through the community.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adjective 2

becoming very popular or well-known rapidly, especially on the internet.

The video went viral within hours of being uploaded.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45