Fever
/ˈfiːvə/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A higher than normal body temperature of a person (or, generally, a mammal), usually caused by disease. countable, uncountable
"There has been a rise in my fever. I think I've the flu."
- 2 a state of nervous excitement wordnet
- 3 Any of various diseases. countable, in-compounds, uncountable, usually
"scarlet fever"
- 4 a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection wordnet
- 5 A state of excitement or anxiety. countable, uncountable
"an envious fever"
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- 6 A group of stingrays. countable, neologism, uncountable
"On the way back to the mainland the boat passed over a fever of stingrays, and the sight of them through the glass was enough to colour everything else, and outstrip it."
- 7 Sexual attraction towards a specific group of people. countable, derogatory, in-compounds, often, slang, uncountable
"Asian fever"
Verb
- 1 To put into a fever; to affect with fever.
"a fevered lip"
- 2 To become fevered.
Example
More examples"You have a little fever today, don't you?"
Etymology
From Middle English fever, fevere, from Old English fefer, fefor (“fever”) and Old French fievre (“fever”), from Latin febris (“a fever”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- (“to burn”). Replaced native Old English hriþ (“fever”). Compare also Saterland Frisian Fiewer, German Fieber, Danish feber, Swedish feber.