virtual Definition

virtual
adj

1. Being so in effect or in practice, but not in name.

Example: a virtual state of war
Thesaurus: essential, implicit, practical, effective, usable, workable.
2. Nearly so; almost but not quite.

Example: the virtual collapse of the steel industry
3. computing., slang
Referring or relating to interaction, connection, use, etc via the Internet.
Example: pay by virtual money
4. computing.
Said of memory or storage: appearing to be internal but actually transferred a segment at a time as required from (and to) back-up storage into (and out of) the smaller internal memory.

Etymology: 17c in sense 1: from Latin virtualis, related to virtue.