coronavirus

Etymology

transmission electron micrograph of the Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus that emerged in 2012]] From corona (“crown-like circle of light appearing around the sun”) + virus. Corona is derived from Latin corōna (“garland, wreath; crown”), from Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “something curved; curved stern of a ship; end, point, tip”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). The name refers to the characteristic appearance of its virions by electron microscopy, which have a fringe of surface projections creating an image reminiscent of a solar corona. Compare the former genus name Coronavirus.

noun

1. (virology) A member of the family Coronaviridae, comprising viruses which infect animals and human beings, and the genome of which consists of a single strand of RNA.
   A new group of viruses with the name of coronaviruses has been recognized by an informal group of virologists who have sent their conclusions to Nature. […] In the opinion of the eight virologists these viruses are members of a previously unrecognized group which they suggest should be called the coronaviruses, to recall the characteristic appearance by which these viruses are identified in the electron microscope.] [16 November 1968, “Virology: Coronaviruses”, in Nature, volume 220, number 5168, page 650
   This characteristic structural resemblance and other shared properties of these viruses have caused certain virologists to propose the name coronavirus for this previously unrecognized group.] [1969 November, Harold S. Kaye, Walter R. Dowdle, “Some Characteristics of Hemagglutination of Certain Strains of ‘IBV-Like’ Virus”, in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, volume 120, number 5, Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, →ISSN, →JSTOR, →OCLC, →PMID, page 576, column 1
   The virus, designated as rat coronavirus (RCV), exhibits properties representative of the coronavirus group: characteristic surface structure, particles somewhat variable in size averaging approximately 90 mμ, apparent RNA content, essential lipid, heat sensitivity, and a close serologic relationship with the mouse hepatitis virus complex. 1970 September, J. C. Parker, S. S. Cross, W. P. Rowe, “Rat Coronavirus (RCV): A Prevalent, Naturally Occurring Pneumotropic Virus of Rats”, in Archiv für die gesamte Virusforschung, volume 31, numbers 3–4, New York, N.Y.: Springer-Verlag, →ISSN, →OCLC, summary, page 293
   In 1971 a canine coronavirus was isolated from feces of military dogs that were suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea. … Diagnosis usually is based on the history and physical examination and the identification of coronavirus by electron microscope examination of feces or by performing other laboratory tests on the feces. 1984, Johnny D. Hoskins, John D. Rhoades, “Distemper, Other Infectious Dog Diseases”, in Jack Hayes, editor, 1984 Yearbook of Agriculture: Animal Health: Livestock and Pets, Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Agriculture, →OCLC, page 388
   Some accompanying cytotoxicity has also been observed as well as slight activity against A59 corona virus without concurrent cytotoxicity …. 1993, Kenneth L. Rinehart, Lois S. Shield, Martha Cohen-Parsons, “Antiviral Substances”, in David H. Attaway, Oskar R. Zaborsky, editors, Marine Biotechnology, volumes 1 (Pharmaceutical and Bioactive Natural Products), New York, N.Y.: Plenum Press, section 4.7 (Thyrsiferol and Related Triterpenes), page 319
   [T]he replication of the corona-virus and the herpes-simplex virus is blocked by cystatin C … 1997, Michiel F. J. Blankenvoorde et al., “Antibacterial Activity against Porphyromonas Gingivalis by Cystatins”, in V. K. Hopsu-Havu, M. Järvinen, H. Kirschke, editors, Proteolysis in Cell Functions, Amsterdam: IOS Press, page 532
   There are many viruses that have been implicated as the cause of 'colds'. Among the most common are coronaviruses, rhinoviruses and adenoviruses. Coronaviruses are so called because they look like crowns when viewed in an electron microscope, … 1999, J. Heritage, E[mlyn] G[lyn] V[aughan] Evans, R. A. Killington, “Microbial Infections”, in Microbiology in Action, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press, published 2000, section 7.6.8 (What Causes Sore Throats and Glandular Fever?), page 191
   [T]he common cold is attributed to rhinoviruses and corona viruses; … 2005, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, “Sampling for Pollutants of Biological Origin”, in Occupational Exposure Assessment for Air Contaminants, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, section 14.1 (Introduction), page 221
   SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] is caused by a coronavirus. Viewed under a microscope, the virus looks like a crown, or corona. This is the same type of virus that causes the common cold and pneumonia. The coronavirus that causes SARS is called SARS-CoV. 2008, Carol Ballard, “SARS”, in AIDS and Other Epidemics (What If We Do Nothing?), Pleasantville, N.Y.: Gareth Stevens Publishing, page 22
   It took four months to identify the culprit of the new disease as a virus of the corona-virus family that had jumped to infect humans from wild small animals handled and consumed as food in the Guangdong province of China. 2010, Rodolfo Saracci, “What is Epidemiology?”, in Epidemiology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions), Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press
   Coronaviruses are worrying because epidemics caused by other members of the viral family, SARS and MERS, have had high death rates: 10 percent for SARS, and about 35 percent for MERS. 24 January 2020, Denise Grady, “Chicago woman is second patient in U.S. with Wuhan coronavirus”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC
   1. (often the intended sense, since 2020) SARS-CoV-2, the specific coronavirus that causes the infectious disease COVID-19.
      A woman in her 70s was confirmed as the first coronavirus death in the UK on Thursday as Downing Street warned that it was now highly likely that the virus would spread in “a significant way”. 6 March 2020, “First UK death from coronavirus confirmed as cases surge to 116”, in The Guardian
2. (metonymically) An illness caused by a coronavirus.
   1. COVID-19, the disease caused by the specific coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.