any of a group of herpesviruses that cause enlargement of the epithelial cells, esp. of the salivary glands, associated with pneumonia and with abnormalities in newborn infants that affect the brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs
Origin:
cyto- + megalo- + virus
See cytomegalovirus in American Heritage Dictionary 4
cy·to·meg·a·lo·vi·rus
noun Abbr. CMV
Any of a group of herpes viruses that attack and enlarge epithelial cells. Such viruses also cause a disease of infants characterized by circulatory dysfunction and microcephaly.