[ˈvəːtʃʊəl], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to strict definition
(e.g: the virtual absence of border controls)

- not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so
(e.g: virtual images)

- relating to the points at which rays would meet if produced backwards

- relating to or denoting infinitesimal displacements of a point in a system

- denoting particles or interactions with extremely short lifetimes and (owing to the uncertainty principle) indefinitely great energies, postulated as intermediates in some processes


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘possessing certain virtues’): from medieval Latin virtualis, from Latin virtus ‘virtue’, suggested by late Latin virtuosus