nerve

[ nurv ]
See synonyms for: nervenerves on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. one or more bundles of fibers forming part of a system that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, etc., between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.

  2. a sinew or tendon: to strain every nerve.

  1. firmness or courage under trying circumstances: an assignment requiring nerve;to lose your nerve at the very last moment.

  2. boldness; audacity; impudence; impertinence: He had the nerve to say that?

  3. nerves, nervousness: an attack of nerves.

  4. strength, vigor, or energy: a test of nerve and stamina.

  5. (not in technical use) pulp tissue of a tooth.

  6. Botany. a vein, as in a leaf.

  7. a line, or one of a system of lines, extending across something.

verb (used with object),nerved, nerv·ing.
  1. to give strength, vigor, or courage to: Encouragement had nerved him for the struggle.

Idioms about nerve

  1. bundle of nerves. See entry at bundle of nerves.

  2. get on one's nerves, to irritate, annoy, or provoke one: Boisterous children get on my nerves.

  1. have nerves of steel, to be able to control one’s fear or unease and remain calm and competent, even in the worst of circumstances: I thought I had nerves of steel, but when we had to dissect a pig, I turned into a jellyfish.

Origin of nerve

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “nerve, tendon,” from Latin nervus “sinew, tendon”; akin to Greek neûron (see neuron); replacing Middle English nerf, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Other words for nerve

Opposites for nerve

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nerve in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nerve

nerve

/ (nɜːv) /


noun
  1. any of the cordlike bundles of fibres that conduct sensory or motor impulses between the brain or spinal cord and another part of the body: Related adjective: neural

  2. courage, bravery, or steadfastness

  1. lose one's nerve to become timid, esp failing to perform some audacious act

  2. informal boldness or effrontery; impudence: he had the nerve to swear at me

  3. muscle or sinew (often in the phrase strain every nerve)

  4. a large vein in a leaf

  5. any of the veins of an insect's wing

  6. touch a nerve, touch a raw nerve, hit a nerve, hit a raw nerve, strike a nerve or strike a raw nerve to mention or bring to mind a sensitive issue or subject

verb(tr)
  1. to give courage to (oneself); steel (oneself)

  2. to provide with nerve or nerves

Origin of nerve

1
C16: from Latin nervus; related to Greek neuron; compare Sanskrit snāvan sinew

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

Scientific definitions for nerve

nerve

[ nûrv ]


  1. Any of the bundles of fibers made up of neurons that carry sensory and motor information throughout the body in the form of electrical impulses. Afferent nerves carry information to the central nervous system, and efferent nerves carry information from the central nervous system to the muscles, organs, and glands. Efferent nerves include the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which control voluntary motor activity and of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary motor activity.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for nerve

nerve

A bundle of fibers composed of neurons that connects the body parts and organs to the central nervous system and carries impulses from one part of the body to another.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with nerve

nerve

see bundle of nerves; get on someone's nerves; get up (one's nerve); have a nerve; lose one's nerve; of all the nerve; war of nerves.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.