fever

[ fee-ver ]

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.

verb (used with object)

1. to affect with or as with fever:

   The excitement fevered him.

fever

/ ˈfiːvə /

noun

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

verb

1. tr to affect with or as if with fever

fever

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈfeverless, adjective
• ˈfevered, adjective

Other Words From

• fever·less adjective
• un·fevered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fever¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fever¹

Old English fēfor , from Latin febris

Idioms and Phrases

see cabin fever ; run a fever .

Example Sentences

Betsy’s diagnosis followed months of stomach pain, fevers and limb pain.

From BBC

He said he had a previous fever spike among his cows in August.

From Los Angeles Times

Mpox symptoms often include fever, headaches and exhaustion followed by a painful rash and lesions on the body.

From BBC

Tidwell primarily conducts genetic research in arthropods, specifically cattle fever ticks.

From Science Daily

There’s a Marc Jacobs “Wizard of Oz” collection currently on sale that has nothing to do with “Wicked” but surely will benefit from Oz fever.

From New York Times

Related Words

• delirium
• frenzy
• turmoil