Medical Definition of Human immunodeficiency virus. Human immunodeficiency virus: HIV, the cause of AIDS. HIV has also previously been called the human lymphotropic virus type III, the lymphadenopathy-associated virus and the lymphadenopathy virus. No matter what name is applied, it is a retrovirus. (A retrovirus has an RNA genome and a reverse transcriptase enzyme.
Definition of custody for English Language Learners. 1  law : the legal right to take care of a child (such as a child whose parents are divorced) : 2  the state of being kept in a prison or jail. : 3  the act of protecting or taking care of something.
Duhaime's Law Dictionary. Legal Custody Definition: Related Terms: Custody, Guardianship. A child custody status which entails the right to make, or participate in, the significant decisions affecting a childâs health and welfare (compare with physical custody and joint custody).