Technology / B2

VURCH-oo-uh-l/ˈvɜːtʃuəl/

Virtual means done by computer rather than in person, or almost but not exactly: a virtual parents’ evening; a virtual monopoly. Online is the everyday twin; almost is the “nearly” sense. The evening was virtual after snow. Mix-up: virtuous means morally good (next entry’s family). Do not write virtual for “imaginary” without the computer or “almost” sense.

Meaning

Done by computer rather than in person; also almost but not exactly.

Examples

• “The parents’ evening was virtual after the snow closure.”
• “One chain had a virtual monopoly on buses, which is the “almost complete” sense.”

Good to know

a virtual meeting / classroom; virtually. Everyday: online. Trap: virtuous. Remote learning and economics. Computer-based or almost, not “pretend”.

Near in meaning

online

Topics

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