1. A family of small, non-enveloped RNA viruses that cause various diseases in humans and animals, including polio, rhinovirus, and foot-and-mouth disease.
Usage: plural form; technical/medical term; virology

Examples

• Picornaviruses are among the smallest known viruses affecting humans.
• The polio vaccine was developed to protect against one of the most dangerous picornaviruses.
• Rhinoviruses, a type of picornavirus, are responsible for most common colds.
• Researchers study picornaviruses to understand how they replicate and cause infection.
• Foot-and-mouth disease in livestock is caused by a picornavirus.
• The structure of picornaviruses makes them resistant to many environmental conditions.