virtual

Meaning

Adj

1. In effect or essence, rather than in fact or reality; also, imitated, simulated.
2. For practical purposes, though not technically; almost complete, very near.
3. Operating using a computer and/or online rather than physically present.
4. Simulated in a computer and/or online.
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.
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.
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. (obsolete) Having efficacy or power due to some natural qualities.
12. (obsolete) Having efficacy or power due to some natural qualities.
13. (obsolete) Having the power of acting without the agency of some material or measurable thing; possessing invisible efficacy.
14. (obsolete) Producing, or able to produce, some result; effective, efficacious.
15. (obsolete) Synonym of virtuous (“full of virtue; having excellent moral character”)

Noun

1. Preceded by the: that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; (countable) an instance of this.
2. Preceded by the: that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; (countable) an instance of this.
3. A virtual (adjective sense 3.3) member function of a class.

Synonyms

actual

real

practical

veritable

factual

potential

veridical

hide

honest-to-god

honest-to-goodness

imagination

implicit

incubation

in fact

in practice

in reality

latency

latent

literal

big

de facto

primary

proper

bona fide

realistic

regular

substantial

substantive

supposition

sure-enough

tangible

true

true to life

effective

essential

Hyphenated as

vir‧tu‧al

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈvɜːt͡ʃʊəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: vertual

Cognate with French: virtuel

Cognate with Italian: virtuale

Cognate with Spanish: virtual

In summary

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