virulence
/ˈvɪɹjələns/ noun
Forms virulences
- noun The state of being virulent. “Most strains of this virus have no virulence.”
- noun The degree of how virulent a thing is. “This strain has higher virulence than most others.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle French virulence, from Late Latin virulentia.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The quality or state of being virulent or venomous; poisonousness; malignancy.
- noun Extreme bitterness or malignity of disposition. "Refuted without satirical virulency." Barrow.
Etymology [Cf. F. virulence, L. virulentia an offensive odor, a stench.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “virulence”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details