This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
delirium
[ dih-leer-ee-uhm ]
/ dɪˈlɪər i əm /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
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.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON OPPOSITES OF RED BEFORE YOU TURN SCARLET
We have a challenge that will make you blush: do you know the many words and ways to describe the opposite of red?
Question 1 of 7
Which of the following colors is used to symbolize AIR?
Origin of delirium
OTHER WORDS FROM delirium
sem·i·de·lir·i·um, nounWords nearby delirium
deliquescence, deliquescent, deliration, deliriant, delirious, delirium, delirium tremens, delish, delist, delitescence, delitescent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use delirium in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for delirium
delirium
/ (dɪˈlɪrɪəm) /
noun plural -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
Derived forms of delirium
deliriant, adjectiveWord Origin for delirium
C16: from Latin: madness, from dēlīrāre, literally: to swerve from a furrow, hence be crazy, from de- + līra ridge, furrow
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
Medical definitions for delirium
delirium
[ dĭ-lîr′ē-əm ]
n. pl. de•lir•i•ums
A temporary state of mental confusion resulting from high fever, intoxication, shock, or other causes, and characterized by anxiety, disorientation, memory impairment, hallucinations, trembling, and incoherent speech.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.