
/vr.j.lnt/
形容词,意为"剧毒的、致命的"(指病毒或疾病极具感染力和危害性),也可引申为"恶毒的、充满敌意的"(指言辞、批评等极其尖刻)。
The virulent strain of the flu spread rapidly across the country.
这种致命的流感病毒株迅速蔓延至全国。
His virulent attacks on the government's policies shocked even his closest allies, who had never seen him express such bitter hostility.
他对政府政策的恶毒攻击令他最亲密的盟友都感到震惊,他们从未见他表达过如此刻骨的敌意。
源自拉丁语 virulentus,意为"有毒的",其词根为 virus,在拉丁语中原指"毒液、黏液"。该词在14世纪进入英语,最初用于描述伤口中的毒素,后逐渐扩展到形容疾病的猛烈程度,以及比喻义上的"恶毒、尖刻"。