Definition of "virulent" in English

adjective

1. Of animals, plants, or substances: extremely venomous or poisonous.

2. (figurative) Extremely hostile or malicious; intensely acrimonious.

   • The politicians were virulent in their hatred of the president.
   • More venemous and much more virulent / Then any poyſoned tode, or any ſerpent.

3. (medicine) Of a disease or disease-causing agent: malignant, able to cause damage to the host.

4. (microbiology) Of a pathogen: replicating within its host cell, then immediately causing it to undergo lysis.