virtual

• vertual, virtuall (obsolete)
• vertuall (obsolete, rare)

From Middle English vertual, virtual, from Medieval Latin virtuālis, from virtus (“virtue”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈvɜːtʃuəl/, /ˈvɜːtʃəl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈvɝtʃuəl/
• (General New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈvɵːtʃuəl/, /ˈvɵːtʃəl/, [ˈvɵːtʃɯ(l)]
• Hyphenation: vir‧tu‧al, vir‧tual

virtual (not comparable)

1. In effect or essence, if not in fact or reality; imitated, simulated.

   In fact a defeat on the battlefield, Tet was a virtual victory for the North, owing to its effect on public opinion.

   Virtual addressing allows applications to believe that there is much more physical memory than actually exists.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Fleming

     A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence.

   • (Can we date this quote?) De Quincey

     to mask by slight differences in the manners a virtual identity in the substance

2. Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the agency of the material or measurable part; potential.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Francis Bacon

     Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance.

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     Every kind that lives, / Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed.

3. Nearly, almost. (A relatively recent development in meaning)

   The angry peasants were a virtual army as they attacked the castle.

   • 2012, Chelsea 6-0 Wolves

     The Chelsea captain was a virtual spectator as he was treated to his side's biggest win for almost two years as Stamford Bridge serenaded him with chants of "there's only one England captain," some 48 hours after he announced his retirement from international football.

4. Simulated in a computer or online.

   The virtual world of his computer game allowed character interaction.

5. Operating by computer or in cyberspace; not physically present.

   a virtual assistant; a virtual personal trainer

6. (computing, object-oriented programming, of a class member) Capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass.
7. (physics) Pertaining to particles in temporary existence due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

• de facto

• de jure
• legal
• real

• virtual reality
• virtually

virtual (plural virtuals)

1. (computing, programming) A virtual member function of a class.

From Medieval Latin virtuālis.

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /viɾ.tuˈal/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /bir.tuˈal/

virtual (masculine and feminine plural virtuals)

1. virtual

virtual

1. Alternative form of vertual

From Medieval Latin virtuālis.

virtual

1. virtual

From Medieval Latin virtuālis.

• IPA^(key): /viɾtuˈaɫ/, /viɾˈtwaɫ/

virtual m or f (plural virtuais, comparable)

1. virtual (in effect or essence, not in fact or reality)
2. virtual (simulated in a computer)

• virtual in Dicionário Aberto based on Novo Diccionário da Língua Portuguesa de Cândido de Figueiredo, 1913

From Medieval Latin virtuālis.

• IPA^(key): /birˈtwal/, [birˈt̪wal]
• Hyphenation: vir‧tual

virtual (plural virtuales)

1. virtual

• “virtual” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.