fever

American  

[fee-ver] / ˈfi vər /

noun

1. an abnormal condition of the body, characterized by undue rise in temperature, quickening of the pulse, and disturbance of various body functions.

2. an abnormally high body temperature.

3. the number of degrees of such a temperature above the normal.

4. any of a group of diseases in which high temperature is a prominent symptom.

   scarlet fever.

5. intense nervous excitement.

   The audience was in a fever of anticipation.

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verb (used with object)

1. to affect with or as with fever.

   The excitement fevered him.

fever British  

/ ˈfiːvə /

noun

1. an abnormally high body temperature, accompanied by a fast pulse rate, dry skin, etc

2. any of various diseases, such as yellow fever or scarlet fever, characterized by a high temperature

3. intense nervous excitement or agitation

   she was in a fever about her party

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verb

1. (tr) to affect with or as if with fever

fever Scientific  

/ fē′vər /

1. 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.

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fever Idioms  

1. see cabin fever; run a fever.

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Other Word Forms

• fevered adjective
• feverless adjective
• unfevered adjective

Etymology

Origin of fever

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fefer, from Latin febr-, stem of febris; reinforced by Anglo-French fevre, Old French fievre, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

"We ask parents and guardians to look out for symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, fever or difficulty breathing," James Adamson from Public Health Wales said.

From BBC

It can cause ulcers or sores around the animal's mouth and face, difficulties swallowing and breathing, fever and lameness, foetal deformities and stillbirths.

From BBC

Bird flu viruses pose a significant danger to humans because they can continue multiplying at temperatures warmer than a normal fever.

From Science Daily

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne infection that can severely damage the liver and is potentially fatal.

From Science Daily

Early symptoms include a rash, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache and fever, but can often be overlooked or misinterpreted.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• delirium
• frenzy
• turmoil