fever
[ fee-ver ]
/ ˈfi vər /
noun
an abnormal condition of the body, characterized by undue rise in temperature, quickening of the pulse, and disturbance of various body functions.
an abnormally high body temperature.
the number of degrees of such a temperature above the normal.
any of a group of diseases in which high temperature is a prominent symptom: scarlet fever.
intense nervous excitement: The audience was in a fever of anticipation.
verb (used with object)
to affect with or as with fever: The excitement fevered him.
Origin of fever
before 1000; Middle English; Old English
fefer < Latin
febr- (stem of
febris) fever; reinforced by Anglo-French
fevre, Old French
fievre < Latin, as above
OTHER WORDS FROM fever
fe·ver·less, adjective un·fe·vered, adjectiveWords nearby fever
feudist,
feuerbach,
feuillant,
feuilleton,
fev,
fever,
fever blister,
fever heat,
fever pitch,
fever therapy,
fever tree
Example sentences from the Web for fever
British Dictionary definitions for fever
fever
/ (ˈfiːvə) /
noun
an abnormally high body temperature, accompanied by a fast pulse rate, dry skin, etc
Related adjectives: febrile, pyretic
any of various diseases, such as yellow fever or scarlet fever, characterized by a high temperature
intense nervous excitement or agitation
she was in a fever about her party
verb
(tr)
to affect with or as if with fever
Derived forms of fever
fevered, adjective feverless, adjectiveWord Origin for fever
Old English
fēfor, from Latin
febris
Medical definitions for fever
fever
[ fē′vər ]
n.
Body temperature above the normal of 98.6°F (37°C).
pyrexia
Any of various diseases in which there is an elevation of the body temperature above normal.
Scientific definitions for fever
fever
[ fē′vər ]
A body temperature that is higher than normal. Fever is the body's natural response to the release of substances called pyrogens by infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. The pyrogens stimulate the hypothalamus in the brain to conserve heat and increase the basal metabolic rate.
Idioms and Phrases with fever
fever
see cabin fever; run a fever.