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Invent vs Virtual - What's the difference?

invent | virtual |

As a verb invent

is to design a new process or mechanism.

As an adjective virtual is

in effect or essence, if not in fact or reality; imitated, simulated.

As a noun virtual is

(computing) in c++, a virtual member function of a class.

invent

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To design a new process or mechanism.
    • After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks.
  • To create something fictional for a particular purpose.
    • I knew I had to invent an excuse, and quickly.
    We need a name to put in this form, so let's just invent one.
  • (obsolete) To come upon; to find; to find out; to discover.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.vi:
    • Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad, / If Bacchus merry fruit they did inuent [...].

    Synonyms

    * fangle * discover

    Related terms

    * invented * inventive * invention * inventor * inventory * reinvent

    External links

    * * 1000 English basic words

    virtual

    English

    (wikipedia virtual)

    Alternative forms

    * vertual (obsolete) * vertuall (qualifier) * virtuall (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • In effect or essence, if not in fact or reality; imitated, simulated.
    • In fact a defeat on the battlefield, Tet was a virtual victory for the North, owing to its effect on public opinion.
    Virtual addressing allows applications to believe that there is much more physical memory than actually exists.
  • * Fleming
    • A thing has a virtual existence when it has all the conditions necessary to its actual existence.
  • * De Quincey
    • to mask by slight differences in the manners a virtual identity in the substance
  • Having the power of acting or of invisible efficacy without the agency of the material or measurable part; potential.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Heat and cold have a virtual transition, without communication of substance.
  • * Milton
    • Every kind that lives, / Fomented by his virtual power, and warmed.
  • Nearly, almost. (A relatively recent corruption of meaning, attributed to misuse in advertising and media. )
    • The angry peasants were a virtual army as they attacked the castle.
  • * 2012 , Chelsea 6-0 Wolves [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19632463]
    • The Chelsea captain was a virtual spectator as he was treated to his side's biggest win for almost two years as Stamford Bridge serenaded him with chants of "there's only one England captain," some 48 hours after he announced his retirement from international football.
  • Simulated in a computer or online.
    • The virtual world of his computer game allowed character interaction.
  • Operating by computer or in cyberspace; not physically present.
    • a virtual''' assistant; a '''virtual personal trainer
  • (computing, object-oriented programming, of a class member) Capable of being overridden with a different implementation in a subclass.
  • (physics) Pertaining to particles in temporary existence due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

    • Synonyms

    * de facto

    Antonyms

    * de jure * legal * real

    Derived terms

    * virtual reality * virtually

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (computing) In C++, a virtual member function of a class.
    • ----