retrovirus

R1E1T1R1O1V4I1R1U1S1

noun

Any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell, thus changing the genome of that cell.

UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

nounretrovirus (plural retroviruses)

plural retroviruses

  1. biologyAny of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell, thus changing the genome of that cell.

    Montagnier soon deduced that this was an RNA virus that could convert its genes into DNA and lodge into the human genome—a retrovirus.

    2010, Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of All Maladies, Fourth Estate (2011), page 318
  2. computer securityA computer virus that seeks to attack antivirus programs in an attempt to avoid detection.

Synonyms & antonyms

Narrower
orthoretrovirusspumaretrovirusalpharetrovirusbetaretrovirusbovispumavirusepsilonretrovirusequispumavirusfelispumavirusgammaretroviruslentivirusprosimiispumavirussimiispumavirus

Origin

From retro- + virus, from its reverse direction of replication.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan retrovirus
  • retrovirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Chinese Mandarin 逆轉錄病毒 /逆转录病毒, 反轉錄病毒 /反转录病毒
  • 逆轉錄病毒 /逆转录病毒 (nìzhuǎnlù bìngdú)any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
  • 反轉錄病毒 /反转录病毒 (fǎnzhuǎnlù bìngdú)any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Finnish retrovirus
  • retrovirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
French rétrovirus
  • rétrovirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
German Retrovirus
  • Retrovirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Greek ρετροϊός
  • ρετροϊός (retroïós)any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Hindi प्रतिविषाणु
  • प्रतिविषाणु (prativiṣāṇu)any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Hungarian retrovírus
  • retrovírusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Icelandic víxlveira, retróveira
  • víxlveiraany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
  • retróveiraany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Italian retrovirus
  • retrovirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Japanese レトロウイルス
  • レトロウイルス (retorouirusu)any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Korean 레트로바이러스
  • 레트로바이러스 (reteurobaireoseu)any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Polish retrowirus
  • retrowirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Portuguese retrovírus
  • retrovírusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Russian ретровирус
  • ретровирус (retrovirus)any of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Spanish retrovirus
  • retrovirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Swedish retrovirus
  • retrovirusany of a group of viruses which insert a copy of their RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell
Cite this entry
APA

retrovirus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrovirus

MLA

“retrovirus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrovirus. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retrovirus,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrovirus.

Source: retrovirus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.