the.com/virtual
Almost-real, fully convincing, technically nowhere — the universe's most useful little lie.
means Existing in effect or essence but not in actual physical form — either as a near-equivalent of the real thing or as something simulated by computers.
from From Latin 'virtus' (strength, virtue, power), via medieval Latin 'virtualis,' which described something possessing the inherent power or effect of a thing without being that thing in substance. For centuries 'virtual' meant 'in effect, for all practical purposes' — a virtual victory, a virtual stranger. Its modern computing sense (virtual memory, virtual reality) blossomed in the mid-20th century, taking that old 'real in effect, not in fact' meaning and aiming it squarely at machines.
- latin root
- From virtus, meaning strength or excellence
- old meaning
- Once meant effective in practice, not fake
- physics ghost
- Virtual particles pop into existence and vanish constantly
- optics trick
- Mirror images are virtual, light only seems there
- computing dawn
- Virtual memory faked RAM since the 1960s
second life — online virtual world launched 2003 with 1 million monthly users at peak
decentraland — blockchain-based metaverse where virtual land sold for millions of dollars
roblox — user-generated virtual platform with 250+ million monthly active users