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delirium
[ dih-leer-ee-uhm ]
/ dɪˈlɪər i əm /
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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.
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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. 2023
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
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