virtual

Etymology

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 noun is derived from the adjective. cognates * French virtuel * Italian virtuale * Spanish virtual

adj

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.
   VIRTUAL is opposed to actual.— […] A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence. The statue exists virtually in the brass or iron, the oak in the acorn. 1857, William Fleming, “VIRTUAL”, in The Vocabulary of Philosophy, Mental, Moral, and Metaphysical;[…], London, Glasgow: Richard Griffin and Company, →OCLC, page 542
2. For practical purposes, though not technically; almost complete, very near.
   The angry peasants were a virtual army as they attacked the castle.
   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 after he announced his retirement from international football. 24 September 2012, “Capital One Cup Third Round: Chelsea 6 – 0 Wolves”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 2012-11-25
3. (computing)
   1. 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 rolling out programs to remotely monitor vulnerable patients, like those in nursing homes. 10 August 2020, Abigail Abrams, “Tech Companies are Transforming People’s Bedrooms into ‘Virtual Hospitals.’ Will It Last Post-COVID?”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Warner Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-03-28
   2. Simulated in a computer and/or online.
      virtual machine virtual memory virtual private network
      The virtual world of his computer game allowed character interaction.
   3. (object-oriented programming) Of a class member: capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass.
4. (mechanics) 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
5. (physics)
   1. 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.
   2. (optics) 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.
   3. (particle physics) Pertaining to particles in temporary existence due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
   4. (quantum mechanics) Of a quantum state: having an intermediate, short-lived, and unobservable nature.
6. (obsolete)
   1. Having efficacy or power due to some natural qualities.
      1. (specifically, also figurative) Of a plant or other thing: having strong healing powers; virtuous.
   2. Having the power of acting without the agency of some material or measurable thing; possessing invisible efficacy.
   3. Producing, or able to produce, some result; effective, efficacious.
   4. Synonym of virtuous (“full of virtue; having excellent moral character”)

noun

1. (uncountable) 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">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. (countable, programming) A virtual (adjective sense 3.3) member function of a class.