Meanings
nounviroid (plural viroids)
plural viroids
- biologyAny of many short sections of RNA, but without the protein coat typical of viruses (the capsid), that are plant pathogens.
Synonyms: Viroidales
- biologyAny of certain defective viruses, such as hepatitis D, a human pathogen.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAny of many short sections of RNA, but without the protein coat typical of viruses (the capsid), that are plant pathogens.
Similar
Viroidales
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe smallest of viruses; a plant virus with its RNA arranged in a circular chromosome without a protein coat
Similar
Broader
plant virus
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*weys-
- Proto-Indo-European*wisós
- Proto-Italic*weizos
- Latinvīrus
- Middle Englishvirus
- Englishvirus
- Proto-Indo-European*weyd-
- Proto-Indo-European*wéydos
- Proto-Hellenic*wéidos
- Ancient Greekεἶδος (eîdos)
- Englishviroid
Translations
Czech viroid
- viroidcertain defective viruses
French viroïde
- viroïdecertain defective viruses
Icelandic veirungur
- veirungurcertain defective viruses
Japanese ウイロイド, ウイルス様体
- ウイロイド (uiroido)certain defective viruses
- ウイルス様体 (uirusu yōtai)certain defective viruses
Portuguese viroide
- viroidecertain defective viruses
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
viroid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/viroid
MLA
“viroid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/viroid. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “viroid,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/viroid.
Source: viroid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.