Definition of "coronavirus"

A new group of viruses with the name of coronaviruses has been recognized by an informal group of virologists who have sent their conclusions to Nature. […] In the opinion of the eight virologists these viruses are members of a previously unrecognized group which they suggest should be called the coronaviruses, to recall the characteristic appearance by which these viruses are identified in the electron microscope.]

[1968 November 16, “Virology: Coronaviruses”, in Nature, volume 220, number 5168, page 650

This characteristic structural resemblance and other shared properties of these viruses have caused certain virologists to propose the name coronavirus for this previously unrecognized group.]

[1969 November, Harold S. Kaye, Walter R. Dowdle, “Some Characteristics of Hemagglutination of Certain Strains of ‘IBV-Like’ Virus”, in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, volume 120, number 5, Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, page 576, column 1

The virus, designated as rat coronavirus (RCV), exhibits properties representative of the coronavirus group: characteristic surface structure, particles somewhat variable in size averaging approximately 90 mμ, apparent RNA content, essential lipid, heat sensitivity, and a close serologic relationship with the mouse hepatitis virus complex.

1970 September, J. C. Parker, S. S. Cross, W. P. Rowe, “Rat Coronavirus (RCV): A Prevalent, Naturally Occurring Pneumotropic Virus of Rats”, in Archiv für die gesamte Virusforschung, volume 31, numbers 3–4, New York, N.Y.: Springer-Verlag, summary, page 293

In 1971 a canine coronavirus was isolated from feces of military dogs that were suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhea. [...] Diagnosis usually is based on the history and physical examination and the identification of coronavirus by electron microscope examination of feces or by performing other laboratory tests on the feces.

1984, Johnny D. Hoskins, John D. Rhoades, “Distemper, Other Infectious Dog Diseases”, in Jack Hayes, editor, 1984 Yearbook of Agriculture: Animal Health: Livestock and Pets, Washington, D.C.: United States Department of Agriculture, page 388

Some accompanying cytotoxicity has also been observed as well as slight activity against A59 corona virus without concurrent cytotoxicity [...].

1993, Kenneth L. Rinehart, Lois S. Shield, Martha Cohen-Parsons, “Antiviral Substances”, in David H. Attaway, Oskar R. Zaborsky, editors, Marine Biotechnology, volumes 1 (Pharmaceutical and Bioactive Natural Products), New York, N.Y.: Plenum Press, section 4.7 (Thyrsiferol and Related Triterpenes), page 319

[T]he replication of the corona-virus and the herpes-simplex virus is blocked by cystatin C [...]

1997, Michiel F. J. Blankenvoorde et al., “Antibacterial Activity against Porphyromonas Gingivalis by Cystatins”, in V. K. Hopsu-Havu, M. Järvinen, H. Kirschke, editors, Proteolysis in Cell Functions, Amsterdam: IOS Press, page 532

There are many viruses that have been implicated as the cause of 'colds'. Among the most common are coronaviruses, rhinoviruses and adenoviruses. Coronaviruses are so called because they look like crowns when viewed in an electron microscope, [...]

1999, J. Heritage, E[mlyn] G[lyn] V[aughan] Evans, R. A. Killington, “Microbial Infections”, in Microbiology in Action, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press, published 2000, section 7.6.8 (What Causes Sore Throats and Glandular Fever?), page 191

[T]he common cold is attributed to rhinoviruses and corona viruses; [...]

2005, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, “Sampling for Pollutants of Biological Origin”, in Occupational Exposure Assessment for Air Contaminants, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, section 14.1 (Introduction), page 221

SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] is caused by a coronavirus. Viewed under a microscope, the virus looks like a crown, or corona. This is the same type of virus that causes the common cold and pneumonia. The coronavirus that causes SARS is called SARS-CoV.

2008, Carol Ballard, “SARS”, in AIDS and Other Epidemics (What If We Do Nothing?), Pleasantville, N.Y.: Gareth Stevens Publishing, page 22

It took four months to identify the culprit of the new disease as a virus of the corona-virus family that had jumped to infect humans from wild small animals handled and consumed as food in the Guangdong province of China.

2010, Rodolfo Saracci, “What is Epidemiology?”, in Epidemiology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions), Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press

Coronaviruses are worrying because epidemics caused by other members of the viral family, SARS and MERS, have had high death rates: 10 percent for SARS, and about 35 percent for MERS.

2020 January 24, Denise Grady, “Chicago woman is second patient in U.S. with Wuhan coronavirus”, in The New York Times‎, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company