hiv

IPA/ˌeɪtʃ aɪ ˈviː/
KK[ˈetʃˈaɪvˈi]IPA/ˌeɪtʃ aɪ ˈviː/

hiv — noun

1. a virus that attacks the body's immune system, especially the white blood cells

1.nounB2
Definition

a virus that attacks the body's immune system, especially the white blood cells that fight infections; if it is not treated, the damage to the immune system can lead to AIDS.

Example

The doctor recommended an HIV test for all new patients at the clinic.

modifier use: HIV test

Modern HIV treatments allow people with the virus to live long and healthy lives.

collocation: HIV treatments

Common collocations
  • contract HIV
  • transmit HIV
  • HIV infection
  • HIV test
  • HIV treatment
  • HIV-positive
  • HIV-negative
  • live with HIV
Synonyms

Usage Note

HIV is the abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus. It is distinct from AIDS: AIDS is the later stage of illness that can develop when HIV has severely damaged the immune system. HIV is often used as a modifier (e.g., HIV test, HIV treatment).

Common Mistakes

He has HIV virus.
He has HIV.
HIV already contains the word 'virus,' so 'HIV virus' is redundant.
HIV and AIDS are the same thing.
HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS.
HIV is the cause; AIDS is the advanced stage of the illness.

Word family

  • HIV-positive
    adjectiveB2
  • HIV-negative
    adjectiveB2
  • AIDS
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

HIV is the name of the virus itself, while AIDS is the late-stage illness caused by the virus when the immune system is severely damaged — so they are not interchangeable. A virus is a general category of infectious agents that can only reproduce inside living cells; HIV belongs to a subtype called retroviruses, which use an enzyme to convert their RNA into DNA inside host cells. In everyday language, people say 'HIV' to refer to the infection (e.g., 'living with HIV'), while 'AIDS' is reserved for the most advanced stage of that infection.

HIV ↗AIDS ↗virus ↗retrovirus

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • contract HIV
  • transmit HIV
  • test positive for HIV
  • live with HIV
  • HIV status

Etymology

EnglishLatin (human, virus)French (immunodeficiency)

HIV is a 1980s acronym formed from the initial letters of 'human immunodeficiency virus.' It was introduced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1986 to replace earlier names such as HTLV-III and LAV, after researchers in France and the United States identified the virus as the cause of AIDS.