The coronavirus pandemic has introduced dozens of new words and phrases to daily life, from social distancing to herd immunity. But what do they all mean? Use our translator tool to look up and check the meaning of key terms. Covid-19The disease caused by the coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It primarily affects the lungs. Flatten the curveTo slow the transmission rate so the peak in terms of numbers of cases is flattened into a smoother curve when drawn on a chart, to prevent a very high instance of coronavirus cases overloading health services. LockdownRestrictions on movement or daily life, where public buildings are closed and people told to stay at home. Lockdowns have been imposed in several countries as part of drastic efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus. PandemicAn epidemic of serious disease spreading rapidly in many countries simultaneously. Self-isolationStaying inside and avoiding all contact with other people, with the aim of preventing the spread of a disease. Social distancingKeeping away from other people, with the aim of slowing down transmission of a disease. The government advises not seeing friends or relatives other than those you live with, working from home where possible and avoiding public transport. VirusA tiny agent that copies itself inside the living cells of any organism. Viruses can cause these cells to die and interrupt the body's normal chemical processes, causing disease.