delirium
[ dih-leer-ee-uhm ]
noun,plural de·lir·i·ums, de·lir·i·a [dih-leer-ee-uh]. /dɪˈlɪər i ə/.
Pathology. a more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties, as in fevers, disturbances of consciousness, or intoxication, characterized by restlessness, excitement, delusions, hallucinations, etc.
a state of violent excitement or emotion.
Origin of delirium
1Other words from delirium
- sem·i·de·lir·i·um, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for delirium
delirium
/ (dɪˈlɪrɪəm) /
nounplural -liriums or -liria (-ˈlɪrɪə)
a state of excitement and mental confusion, often accompanied by hallucinations, caused by high fever, poisoning, brain injury, etc
violent excitement or emotion; frenzy
Origin of delirium
1C16: from Latin: madness, from dēlīrāre, literally: to swerve from a furrow, hence be crazy, from de- + līra ridge, furrow
Derived forms of delirium
- deliriant, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse