rhinovirus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “rhinovirus” mean?
A type of virus that is a common cause of the common cold.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of virus that is a common cause of the common cold.
A group of single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the family Picornaviridae, known for causing upper respiratory tract infections, primarily in the nasal passages.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. Both use the term in identical medical/scientific contexts.
Connotations
Purely scientific/medical. No cultural or contextual differences.
Frequency
Used with equal, very low frequency in general discourse but consistently in technical/medical fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “rhinovirus” in a Sentence
The [patient] contracted a rhinovirus.Rhinovirus [causes/leads to] [symptoms].[Scientists/Doctors] identified/studied the rhinovirus.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rhinovirus” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The rhinovirus PCR test came back positive.
- A new rhinovirus strain was identified.
American English
- The patient had a rhinovirus infection.
- Rhinovirus research is ongoing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in pharmaceutical/healthcare industry reports.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and virology research papers, textbooks, and lectures.
Everyday
Very rare. A person would typically say 'I have a cold' or 'a virus', not 'I have a rhinovirus'.
Technical
Primary domain. Used precisely in medical diagnostics, virology, immunology, and public health communications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rhinovirus”
- Misspelling as 'rhynovirus' or 'rhenovirus'.
- Incorrect plural: 'rhinoviruses' is correct, not 'rhinoviri'.
- Using it in general conversation where 'cold' or 'virus' is sufficient.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Rhinoviruses cause the common cold, which is generally milder than influenza (the flu). They are different virus families with different symptoms and severity.
No, there is no commercially available vaccine. One major challenge is the existence of over 160 known serotypes (variants) of human rhinovirus.
Primarily through airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes, and also by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
The name comes from Greek: 'rhino-' meaning 'nose', as it primarily infects the nasal passages.
A type of virus that is a common cause of the common cold.
Rhinovirus is usually technical/medical in register.
Rhinovirus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrʌɪnəʊˌvaɪrəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈraɪnoʊˌvaɪrəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There are no common idioms containing 'rhinovirus'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'RHINO' (nose) + 'VIRUS'. A virus that loves the nose (rhin- is from Greek for nose).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE VIRUS IS AN INVADER / THE BODY IS A BATTLEGROUND (common for all pathogens).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'rhinovirus' MOST appropriately used?