(par‵ă-mik‵sŏ-vī'rŭs )

[ para- + myxo- + virus ]

any of a family (Paramyxoviridae) of single-strand ed RNA viruses that are similar in physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, even though they are quite different pathogenetically. The group includes parainfluenza, measles, mumps, Newcastle disease, and respiratory syncytial viruses.

SEE: orthomyxovirus.