Meanings
nounspiravirus (plural spiraviruses)
plural spiraviruses
- Any virus of the family Spiraviridae.
With the exception of anelloviruses, bidnaviruses, spiraviruses, and some inoviruses, the replicative protein of ssDNA viruses is the so-called HUH endonuclease that cuts genomic DNA at a specific site and initiates rolling circle (or rolling hairpin) replication.
2021 February 24, Encyclopedia of Virology, Academic Press, →ISBN, page 43
Origin
From Latin spīra (“coil”) + virus, after the shape of the virion.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
spiravirus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spiravirus
MLA
“spiravirus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spiravirus. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spiravirus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spiravirus.
Source: spiravirus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.