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Viral

//ˈvaɪɹəl// adj, noun, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or relating to a biological virus. not-comparable

    "viral DNA"

  2. 2
    Caused by a virus. not-comparable

    "viral infection"

  3. 3
    Of the nature of an informatic virus; able to spread copies of itself to other computers. not-comparable
  4. 4
    Spread by word of mouth with minimal intervention, in order to create buzz and interest. not-comparable

    "“Efficient way to disseminate information? I don't think.” “But it is,” Cayce insists. “The model's viral. ‘Deep niche.’ The venues would be carefully selected—”"

  5. 5
    Circulated rapidly and widely from one user to another. not-comparable

    "With some minutes to kill, he checks the headlines on his phone. Yet again, something dreadful and new which he doesn't understand is going viral. Today's fad is, you paint a black vertical rectangle on the wall, or on a mirror, or over the top of a picture. And then you chant something."

Adjective
  1. 1
    relating to or caused by a virus wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A video, image or text spread by "word of mouth" on the internet or by e-mail for humorous, political or marketing purposes.

    "2002, Nik Lever, Flash Mx Games: ActionScript for Artists, Focal Press, page 411, Using the Flash ActiveX control in this way allows you as a developer to create desktop characters, email virals and screensavers."

Slang
  1. 1
    Spreading rapidly online. slang, social-media, 2010s-2020s

    "Her dance clip went viral overnight."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From virus + -al.

Etymology 2

From virus + -al.

See also for "viral"

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