papillomavirus

noun

pap·​il·​lo·​ma·​vi·​rus ˌpa-pə-ˈlō-mə-ˌvī-rəs 

: any of a family (Papillomaviridae) of viruses that contain a single molecule of circular double-stranded DNA and cause papillomas in mammals compare human papillomavirus

Examples of papillomavirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a paper posted to the preprint site bioRxiv, the researchers detected fragments of adenovirus (which causes cold-like illnesses), herpesvirus (linked to cold sores) and papillomavirus (HPV) in Neanderthal genome data. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024

Human papillomavirus can cause deadly cervical cancer as well as vaginal, anal and penile cancer. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 4 Feb. 2023

Initially, researchers thought the warts of those involved with the slaughtering or butchering of cows were a result of a bovine papillomavirus (BPV), seemingly infected by the virus in a direct cow-to-human transfer. —Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2011

Those fun, fleshy skin growths caused by papillomavirus. —Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 25 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing papillomavirus

• human papillomavirus

Medical Definition

papillomavirus

noun

pap·​il·​lo·​ma·​vi·​rus ˌpap-ə-ˈlō-mə-ˌvī-rəs 

1

capitalized : the sole genus in a family (Papillomaviridae) of double-stranded DNA viruses that contain a single molecule of DNA, have a capsid composed of 72 capsomers, and cause papillomas in mammals

2

: any of the genus Papillomavirus of double-stranded DNA viruses