vir·tue 
/ˈvɚtʃu/ noun
plural vir·tues /ˈvɚtʃu/ noun 1 [noncount] : morally good behavior or character
▪ I urge you all to lead lives of virtue. [=to live virtuously] ▪ She says that virtue is its own reward. [=that if you do good things, you do not need to be rewarded with money, fame, etc.] ▪ His supporters regard him as a model/paragon of virtue. [=as a person who has no moral faults] 2 [count] : a good and moral quality
▪ Patience is a virtue. 3 [noncount] : the good result that comes from something
▪ Her parents taught her the virtue of hard work. [=that hard work is important and valuable] 4 [count] : an advantage or benefit
▪ The restaurant is inexpensive, and it has the added virtue of being close to our house. ▪ One of the virtues of this job is the flexible hours.
▪ I urge you all to lead lives of virtue. [=to live virtuously] ▪ She says that virtue is its own reward. [=that if you do good things, you do not need to be rewarded with money, fame, etc.] ▪ His supporters regard him as a model/paragon of virtue. [=as a person who has no moral faults]
▪ Patience is a virtue.
▪ Her parents taught her the virtue of hard work. [=that hard work is important and valuable]
▪ The restaurant is inexpensive, and it has the added virtue of being close to our house. ▪ One of the virtues of this job is the flexible hours.
by virtue of
: because of (something)
▪ She has the right to participate by virtue of her status as a former employee.
▪ She has the right to participate by virtue of her status as a former employee.
make a virtue (out) of necessity
: to benefit from something that you are forced to do
▪ When he lost his driver's license, he made a virtue out of necessity and got in shape by riding his bike to work.
▪ When he lost his driver's license, he made a virtue out of necessity and got in shape by riding his bike to work.
