virtual

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈvɜːt͡ʃʊəl/, /ˈvɜːt͡ʃ(ʊ)l/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈvɜɹt͡ʃuəl/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈvɵːt͡ʃuəl/, /ˈvɵːt͡ʃəl/, [ˈvɵːt͡ʃɯ(l)] Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)tʃuəl, -ɜːtʃəl Hyphenation: vir‧tu‧al === Adjective === virtual (not comparable) In effect or essence, rather than in fact or reality; also, imitated, simulated. Synonym: de facto Antonyms: actual, real, true, veritable For practical purposes, though not technically; almost complete, very near. (computing) Operating using a computer and/or online rather than physically present. Simulated in a computer and/or online. virtual machine    virtual memory    virtual private network (object-oriented programming) Of a class member: capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass. (mechanics) 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. virtual displacement    virtual work (physics) 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. (optics) 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. Antonym: real (particle physics) Pertaining to particles in temporary existence due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. (quantum mechanics) Of a quantum state: having an intermediate, short-lived, and unobservable nature. (obsolete) Having efficacy or power due to some natural qualities. (specifically, also figuratively) Of a plant or other thing: having strong healing powers; virtuous. Having the power of acting without the agency of some material or measurable thing; possessing invisible efficacy. Producing, or able to produce, some result; effective, efficacious. Synonym of virtuous (“full of virtue; having excellent moral character”). ==== Alternative forms ==== vertual, virtuall (obsolete) vertuall (obsolete, rare) ==== Synonyms ==== (computing): cyberreal ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === virtual (countable and uncountable, plural virtuals) (uncountable) Preceded by the: that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; (countable) an instance of this. (uncountable) That which is simulated in a computer and/or online; virtual reality; (countable) an instance of this; specifically (gambling), a computer simulation of a real-world sport such as horse racing. (countable, programming) A virtual (adjective sense 3.3) member function of a class. ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === virtual (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia == Catalan == === Etymology === Borrowed from Medieval Latin virtuālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Northern, Central, Northwestern) [bir.tuˈal] IPA(key): (Balearic) [vir.tuˈal] IPA(key): (Valencia) [viɾ.tuˈal] === Adjective === virtual m or f (masculine and feminine plural virtuals) virtual (in effect or essence, if not in fact or reality) ==== Derived terms ==== virtualitat virtualitzar virtualment === Further reading === “virtual”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “virtual”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026 “virtual” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua. Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “virtual”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan) == Middle English == === Adjective === virtual alternative form of vertual == Piedmontese == === Etymology === From Medieval Latin virtuālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /virˈtɥal/ === Adjective === virtual virtual == Portuguese == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin virtuālis. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw Hyphenation: vir‧tu‧al === Adjective === virtual m or f (plural virtuais) virtual (in effect or essence, not in fact or reality) virtual (simulated in a computer) ==== Derived terms ==== virtualidade virtualizar virtualmente === Further reading === “virtual”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “virtual” in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913 “virtual”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French virtuel. === Adjective === virtual m or n (feminine singular virtuală, masculine plural virtuali, feminine/neuter plural virtuale) virtual ==== Declension ==== ==== Derived terms ==== realitate virtuală ==== Related terms ==== virtualitate == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from Medieval Latin virtuālis. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /biɾˈtwal/ [biɾˈt̪wal] Rhymes: -al Syllabification: vir‧tual === Adjective === virtual m or f (masculine and feminine plural virtuales) virtual (colloquial) best friend, virtual friend ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “virtual”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025