[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/virtual/)

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# virtual

adjective (virtual)

«virtual» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (computing) Made or seen on a computer or online, not in the real physical world, such as a virtual tour or a virtual classroom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#m1)
2. Almost completely something, though not officially or not quite: "a virtual stranger" is someone you hardly know. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#m2)
3. (science) In optics, a virtual image is one that seems to be behind a mirror or lens but cannot be shown on a screen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and school it often means online or computer-made: virtual reality (VR), a virtual museum visit, a virtual pet, virtual lessons from home. The second sense, "almost", is common in books and the news: "a virtual certainty" means almost certain. In physics lessons on mirrors, the image in a flat mirror is virtual. Phrases: "virtual reality", "a virtual tour", "a virtual certainty", "a virtual stranger".

### Examples

- We went on a virtual tour of the Natural History Museum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x1)
- During the snow days we had virtual lessons on the laptop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x2)
- In virtual reality you feel as if you are inside the game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x3)
- My virtual pet needs feeding every day in the app. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x4)
- The new kid was a virtual stranger to us. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x5)
- It is a virtual certainty that it will rain in Manchester this week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x6)
- The image you see in a mirror is a virtual image. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x7)
- The traffic jam brought the town to a virtual standstill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/#x8)

### Note

Adjective; the adverb "virtually" usually means "almost" (virtually empty = almost empty), not "online". Safety: people you meet in a virtual world are still real people; never share personal details with strangers online. "Virtual" is not the same as "virtuous" (good and moral).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «virtual» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/V/virtual/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«virtual» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/virtual.html) on Mova free.