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ro·ta·vi·rus

(rōtə-vī′rəs)

n.pl. ro·ta·vi·rus·es

Any of a genus of wheel-shaped reoviruses, including one that causes gastroenteritis, especially in infants and newborn animals.

[New Latin Rotavīrus, genus name : Latinrota, wheel; see ret- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + VIRUS.]

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rotavirus

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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