virtual

Preceded by the: that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; (countable) an instance of this.

Adjective

  1. In effect or essence, rather than in fact or reality; also, imitated, simulated.
    • In fact a defeat on the battlefield, Tet was a virtual victory for the North, owing to its effect on public opinion.
    • Virtual addressing allows computer applications to believe that there is much more physical memory than actually exists.
    • [W]e affirm, that Christ is really taken by faith, by the Spirit, to all real effects of his passion; they say, he is taken by the mouth, and that the spiritual and the virtual taking him, in virtue or effect, is not...

    Synonyms: de facto

    Antonyms: actual real true veritable

  2. For practical purposes, though not technically; almost complete, very near.
    • The angry peasants were a virtual army as they attacked the castle.
    • But it vvas plain, that the general reaſonings vvhich vvere employed againſt that povver, vvent directly to our vvhole legiſlative right; and one part of it could not be yielded to ſuch arguments, vvithout a virtual...
    • The Chelsea captain [John Terry] was a virtual spectator as he was treated to his side's biggest win for almost two years as Stamford Bridge serenaded him with chants of "there's only one England captain," some 48 hours...
  3. Operating using a computer and/or online rather than physically present.
    • a virtual assistant a virtual personal trainer
    • In recent months, hospitals around the country, looking for ways to free up beds for coronavirus patients, began expanding their virtual offerings, launching video doctors' visits and virtual therapy sessions, and...
  4. Simulated in a computer and/or online.
    • virtual machine virtual memory virtual private network
    • The virtual world of his computer game allowed character interaction.
  5. Of a class member: capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass.
  6. Pertaining to a theoretical infinitesimal velocity in a mechanical system that does not violate the system's constraints; also, of other physical quantities: resulting from such a velocity.
    • virtual displacement virtual work
  7. Pertaining to a theoretical quality of something which would produce an observable effect if counteracting factors such as friction are disregarded; specifically, of a head of water: producing a certain pressure if friction, etc., is disregarded.
  8. Chiefly in virtual focus: of a focus or point: from which light or other radiation apparently emanates; also, of an image: produced by light that appears to diverge from a point beyond the reflecting or refracting surface.

    Antonyms: real

  9. Pertaining to particles in temporary existence due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
  10. Of a quantum state: having an intermediate, short-lived, and unobservable nature.
  11. Having efficacy or power due to some natural qualities.
    • [H]is ſenſes flame / Flovv'd from his parts, vvith force ſo virtuall, / It fir'd vvith ſence things meere inſenſuall. - 1598, George Chapman, “Third Sestyad”, in Christopher Marlo[w]e, George Chapman, Hero and Leander:...
    • Take an Apple, &c. and pricke it vvith a Pin full of Holes, not deepe, and ſmeare it a little vvith Sacke, or Cinnamon vvater, or Spirit of vvine, euery day for ten dayes, to ſee if the Virtuall Heat of the VVine, or...
    • [H]is [God's] Omnipreſence fills / Land, Sea, and Aire, and every kinde that lives, / Fomented by his virtual power and warmd: […] - 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and...

    1. (specifically, also figuratively) Of a plant or other thing: having strong healing powers; virtuous.

  12. Having the power of acting without the agency of some material or measurable thing; possessing invisible efficacy.
    • VVater, being contiguous vvith Aire, Cooleth it, but Moiſteneth it not, except it Vapour. The Cauſe is, for that Heat, and Cold haue a Virtuall Tranſition, vvithout Communication of Subſtance; but Moiſture not: […] -...

Origin

PIE word *wiHrós The adjective is derived from Middle English vertual, virtual [and other forms], from Old French vertüal, vertüelle (modern French virtuel), or from their etymon Medieval Latin virtuālis (“of or pertaining to potency or power; having power to produce an effect, potent; morally virtuous”), from Latin virtūs (“goodness, virtue; manliness, virility”) (from vir (“adult male, man”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wiHrós (“man”), possibly from *weyh₁- (“to chase, hunt, pursue”)) + -tūs (suffix forming collective or abstract nouns)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship), modelled after virtuōsus (“good, virtuous”). Sense 4 (“pertaining to a theoretical infinitesimal velocity in a mechanical system that does not violate the system’s constraints”) is borrowed from French virtuel, from Middle French virtuel, from Old French vertüal, vertüelle: see above. The...

Forms

vertual virtuall vertuall

Synonyms

cyberreal

Derived

mobile virtual network operator non-virtual interface non-virtual interface pattern pure virtual function pure virtual method semivirtual virtual 8086 mode virtual address virtual assistant virtual autism virtual backlot virtual class virtual community virtual consumption virtual currency virtual darkness virtual data room virtual desktop virtual dinner party virtual disk virtual drive virtual duet virtual focus virtual Friday

Noun

  1. Preceded by the: that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; (countable) an instance of this.

    1. (uncountable) That which is simulated in a computer and/or online; virtual reality; (countable) an instance of this; specifically (gambling), a computer simulation of a real-world sport such as horse racing.

  2. A virtual (adjective sense 3.3) member function of a class.

Forms

virtuals