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virtual Definition

vir·tual (vʉr′c̸ho̵̅o̅ əl)

adjective

  1. being such practically or in effect, although not in actual fact or name a virtual impossibility
  2. Comput.
    1. designating or of a kind of memory (sense 8b) that makes use of disk space to supplement main memory while large programs are being executed
    2. of, pertaining to, or taking place in cyberspace or in virtual reality virtual shopping

Etymology: ME vertual < ML virtualis < L virtus, strength, virtue

virtual Related Forms
vir′·tu·al′·ity (-al′ə tē) noun
virtual Synonyms

virtual

modif.

in essence, in effect, tantamount to, implicit, practical, in practice, in conduct, pragmatic.

virtual Telecom Definition
Being in essence or effect, although not in reality. A virtual circuit, for example, is not a physical circuit, but behaves as though it were, at least in some respects.Virtual is virtually the opposite of transparent, as something transparent exists but appears almost as though it does not. See also transparent, virtual Centrex, virtual circuit, virtual path, virtual WATS, and VPN.
virtual Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • especially: The software tools and working methods used to support team work, especially virtual teamwork ( q.v.

Modifies a noun

  • reality: Virtual reality can now be found on your PC.
  • tour: Take a virtual tour to see how you can save energy in your home.
  • environment: All the participants ' images are shown in the virtual environment.
  • classroom: Students have a Grammar Reference in the virtual classroom, which can help them to carry out these tasks.
  • machine: In tests, we have found the virtual machine runs at a reasonable speed.
  • monopoly: Bridgnorth boats had a virtual monopoly on the carriage of coal.

Used with adjective complement

  • provide: Virtual hosting services Intuitively, sites which provide virtual hosting services should have very loose internal linkage.
  • act: RWStringID stringID ( ); ( acts virtual ) Inherited from class RWCollectable.
  • base: The students will be expected to undertake learning tasks between classes and to participate in computer based virtual learning environment ( WebCT ).
  • feature: This platform has continued to be developed into a more fully featured virtual learning environment ( VLE ).

Preposition: in

  • class: If a function is declared as virtual in the base class, it is virtual in all the derived classes.