1. of, relating to, or causing disease or damage to cells
Usage: technical; biology/medicine
2. producing visible changes in infected cells, as certain viruses do
Usage: technical; virology

Examples

• The cytopathic effect of the virus was observed under the microscope.
• Researchers studied the cytopathic properties of the new strain.
• Cytopathic viruses cause cell lysis and death in culture.
• The cytopathic changes included cell rounding and detachment.
• A cytopathic assay was used to measure viral infectivity.
• Some viruses are non-cytopathic and do not visibly damage host cells.