Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

vir|tu|al|ly ◆◇◇ /vɜː ^r tʃuəli/ ADV You can use virtually to indicate that something is so nearly true that for most purposes it can be regarded as true. □  Virtually all cooking was done over coal-fired ranges. □  It would have been virtually impossible to research all the information. SYNONYMS virtually ADV

practically:He'd known the old man practically all his life.

almost:He was almost as tall as Pete, but skinnier.

nearly:Several times Thorne nearly fell.

vi r|tual me mo|ry N‑UNCOUNT Virtual memory is a computing technique in which you increase the size of a computer's memory by arranging or storing the data in it in a different way. [COMPUTING ]

vi r|tual re|a l|ity N‑UNCOUNT Virtual reality is an environment which is produced by a computer and seems very like reality to the person experiencing it. [COMPUTING ]

vi r|tual sto r|age N‑UNCOUNT Virtual storage is the same as virtual memory . [COMPUTING ]

vir|tue /vɜː ^r tʃuː/ (virtues )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Virtue is thinking and doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. □  She could have established her own innocence and virtue easily enough.

2 N‑COUNT A virtue is a good quality or way of behaving. □  His virtue is patience. □  Humility is considered a virtue.

3 N‑COUNT The virtue of something is an advantage or benefit that it has, especially in comparison with something else. □ [+ in ] There was no virtue in returning to Calvi the way I had come.

4 PHRASE You use by virtue of to explain why something happens or is true. [FORMAL ] □  The article stuck in my mind by virtue of one detail.

5 PHRASE If you make a virtue of something, you pretend that you did it because you chose to, although in fact you did it because you had to. □  The movie makes a virtue out of its economy.

vir|tu|os|ity /vɜː ^r tʃuɒ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] The virtuosity of someone such as an artist or sports player is their great skill. □  At that time, his virtuosity on the trumpet had no parallel in jazz.

vir|tuo|so /vɜː ^r tʃuoʊ zoʊ/ (virtuosos or virtuosi /vɜː ^r tʃuoʊ zi/)

1 N‑COUNT A virtuoso is someone who is extremely good at something, especially at playing a musical instrument. □  He was gaining a reputation as a remarkable virtuoso.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] A virtuoso performance or display shows great skill. □  England's football fans were hoping for a virtuoso performance against Cameroon.

vir|tu|ous /vɜː ^r tʃuəs/

1 ADJ A virtuous person behaves in a moral and correct way. □  Louis was shown as an intelligent, courageous and virtuous family man.

2 ADJ If you describe someone as virtuous , you mean that they have done what they ought to do and feel very pleased with themselves, perhaps too pleased. □  I cleaned the flat, which left me feeling virtuous. ●  vir|tu|ous|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □  'I've already done that,' said Ronnie virtuously.

vi r|tu|ous ci r|cle N‑SING If you describe a situation as a virtuous circle , you mean that once one good thing starts happening, other good things happen, which cause the first thing to continue happening. □  Exercise creates its own virtuous circle. You feel so good you want to continue. □ [+ of ] …a virtuous circle of investment and growth.

viru|lence /v I rjʊləns/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Virulence is great bitterness and hostility. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The virulence of the café owner's anger had appalled her.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The virulence of a disease or poison is its ability to harm or kill people or animals. □  Medical authorities were baffled, both as to its causes and its virulence.