/'vɪʃəs; `vɪʃəs/
adj
1 acting or done with evil intentions; spiteful 有恶意的; 恶毒的
*Vicious thugs attacked an elderly man. 歹徒们袭击了一个老大爷.
* a vicious kick, look, remark 恶狠狠的一踢、样子、言语.
2 given up to vice1(3); depraved 邪恶的; 为非作歹的; 道德败坏的; 堕落的
*a vicious life 堕落的生活
* vicious practices, habits, etc 恶行、恶习.
3 (of animals) savage and dangerous （指动物）凶猛而危险的.
4 (infml 口) violent or severe 剧烈的; 严重的
*a vicious wind, headache, flu-virus 极厉害的大风、头痛、流感病毒.
5 (idm 习语) a vicious `circle state of affairs in which a cause produces an effect which itself produces the original cause, so continuing the whole process 恶性循环
*I need experience to get a job but without a job I can't get experience it's a vicious circle. 我得有经验才能找到工作, 可是没有工作我就无法获得经验--这真是个恶性循环. a vicious `spiral continuous rise in one thing (eg prices) caused by a continuous rise in sth else (eg wages) 恶性螺旋形上升（如工资不断增加, 造成物价不断上涨）.

adj
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: vicieux, from Latin vitiosus 'full of faults', from vitium; VICE]
violent and cruel in a way that hurts someone physically
　a vicious murder
　a vicious killer
　Keep away from that dog, he can be vicious.
very unkind in a way that is intended to hurt someone's feelings or make their character seem bad
= malicious
　Sarah can be quite vicious at times.
　a vicious personal attack on the Duchess
　She was shocked by the vicious tone in his voice.
unpleasantly strong or severe
= violent
　a vicious gust of wind
　a vicious headache
>viciouslyadv
　He twisted her arm viciously.
>viciousnessn[U]