Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Destroying or inhibiting the growth and reproduction of viruses.
  • adjective Of or relating to antivirus software.
  • adjective Eliminating or inhibiting the effectiveness of viruses.
  • noun An antiviral drug.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective medicine Inhibiting the growth and reproduction of a virus.
  • adjective computing Eliminating or inhibiting the action of a computer virus.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any drug that destroys viruses
  • adjective inhibiting or stopping the growth and reproduction of viruses

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

anti- +‎ viral.

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Examples

  • While vaccines can be seen as great preventative measures, this antiviral is a cure.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Smallpox in the garage 2010

  • While vaccines can be seen as great preventative measures, this antiviral is a cure.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Smallpox in the garage 2010

  • While vaccines can be seen as great preventative measures, this antiviral is a cure.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Smallpox in the garage 2010

  • Identification of virus − host interactions has provided information on how HIV evades the host's immune system by impairing lymphocyte function, by constantly changing and by hiding its genome in the host lymphocyte DNA, making its eradication in the infected host difficult even after long-term antiviral treatment.

    Planet Atheism 2008

  • Results from 6-month follow-up of Intercell's therapeutic Hepatitis C vaccine showed statistically significant and long-term antiviral effect in Phase II patients

    Presseportal 2008

  • Results from 6-month follow-up of Intercell's therapeutic Hepatitis C vaccine showed statistically significant and long-term antiviral effect in Phase II patients

    Presseportal 2008

  • Identification of virus − host interactions has provided information on how HIV evades the host's immune system by impairing lymphocyte function, by constantly changing and by hiding its genome in the host lymphocyte DNA, making its eradication in the infected host difficult even after long-term antiviral treatment.

    WordPress.com News homoeconomicusnet 2008

  • It's more like "antiviral" - something which most apps feel they need to be to survive these days.

    TechCrunch MG Siegler 2010

  • VIEW FAVORITES yahooBuzzArticleHeadline = 'Bill Gates funds British scientists in unorthodox health research'; yahooBuzzArticleSummary = 'There is a magnet that can detect malaria at the flick of a switch, a flu-resistant chicken, an "antiviral" tomato & a vaccine enhanced with the use of a laser.

    OpEdNews - Quicklink: Bill Gates funds British scientists in unorthodox health research 2009

  • There is a magnet that can detect malaria at the flick of a switch, a flu-resistant chicken, an 'antiviral' tomato & a vaccine enhanced with the use of a laser.

    OpEdNews - Quicklink: Bill Gates funds British scientists in unorthodox health research 2009

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