An oncovirus is a virus that can cause cancer. This term originated from studies of acutely transforming retroviruses in the 1950–60s, often called oncornaviruses to denote their RNA virus origin. It now refers to any virus with a DNA or RNA genome causing cancer and is synonymous with `tumor virus` or `cancer virus`. The vast majority of hu...
A class of retroviruses that cause a cell to become cancerous.
Any virus of the subfamily Oncovirinae. ... See: oncogenic virus. ... (05 Mar 2000) ... 
(ong´ko-vi″rәs) any virus that promotes cancer.
Type: Term Pronunciation: ong′kō-vī′rŭs Definitions: 1. Term formerly used to describe any virus of the subfamily Oncovirinae.
oncovirus, oncornavirous 1. Any of a group of viruses that contain single-stranded RNA and produce tumors in birds and mammals. 2. A virus capable of causing cancer in animals or in humans. These include DNA viruses, ranging in size from Papova viruses to Herpes viruses and the RNA containing retroviruses.