virtual

Definitions

virtu (from Latin virtūs in its sense of 'inherent power/effect') + -al (adj.). Late Latin virtuālis meant 'having a thing's effect but not its form.' So virtual = 'in effect, though not in fact': a virtual standstill is not officially a stop but works like one. Computing took the word literally — a virtual world has the effect of being real without the physical reality.

Why It Means This

Surprisingly, virtual is a cousin of virile and virtue. All come from Latin vir → virtūs, the 'power inside' something. When virtūs meant 'effective power,' virtuālis described something that acts like the real thing without being it. That single idea covers both the old sense ('a virtual dictator' = acts as one) and the new ('virtual reality' = acts as real). The word never meant 'fake' — it means 'real in effect.'

Common Collocations

• 1.virtual reality虚拟现实
• 2.virtual machine虚拟机
• 3.virtual monopoly实际上的垄断
• 4.virtual meeting线上/虚拟会议
• 5.virtual assistant虚拟助手

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The two companies have a virtual monopoly over the market.

• 2.

  He became the virtual leader of the party long before the vote.

• 3.

  Students attended classes in a virtual classroom during the lockdown.

• 4.

  The headset lets you explore worlds in virtual reality.

Easily Confused

virtual vs actual — They sound opposite but overlap oddly. 'Virtual' means real in effect but not in form (a virtual win = not the official win, yet effectively one). 'Actual' means real in fact. Also watch 'virtual' (in effect / computer-simulated) vs 'virtuous' (morally good) — same root, totally different meaning today.