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Definition of orthomyxovirus

orthomyxovirus

/ˌɔːrθoʊˌmɪksoʊˈvaɪrəs/
or · tho · myx · o · vi · rus
Plural:orthomyxoviruses
•
Adjective:orthomyxoviral
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orthomyxovirus Lexical Profile

orthomyxovirus Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of a family (Orthomyxoviridae) of single-stranded RNA viruses that have a segmented genome and primarily infect the respiratory tract, most notably including the causative agents of influenza in vertebrates.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for orthomyxovirus

• Rhymes for orthomyxovirus

• Nearby Words

orthodontist
orthodox
orthodoxy
orthomyxovirus
orthonyx
orthopedic
orthopedically

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-20th century from the Greek 'orthos' (straight, true), 'myxa' (mucus, referring to the virus's affinity for respiratory mucosal surfaces), and the Latin 'virus' (poison). It was named to classify true influenza viruses and distinguish them from paramyxoviruses.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Orthomyxovirus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/orthomyxovirus
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