fever
FEE-vuh
Fever (noun) means a body temperature higher than normal, usually caused by illness. Example: “The nurse checked the baby's forehead because she suspected a fever.”
noun
1
A body temperature higher than normal, usually caused by illness.
"The nurse checked the baby's forehead because she suspected a fever."
"She stayed home from school with a high fever."
"The doctor said the fever should break within a day or two."
2
A state of intense excitement or agitation.
"The whole town was in a fever of excitement before the election."
How to use fever
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA raised body temperature from illness, or a figurative state of high excitement.
Common pairings
run a fever
break a fever
fever pitch
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Word forms
- Plural
- fevers
- Third person singular
- fevers
- Past tense
- fevered
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The nurse checked the baby's forehead because she suspected a _____.
Etymology
From Old English fefer and Old French fievre, both from Latin febris, from a very old root meaning "to burn."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fever
See all rhymes for fever →Frequently asked questions
What does “fever” mean?
The word “fever” means a body temperature higher than normal, usually caused by illness. In plain terms, a raised body temperature from illness, or a figurative state of high excitement.
How do you pronounce “fever”?
“Fever” is pronounced FEE-vuh (/ˈfivɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fever” in a sentence?
Here is “fever” used in a sentence: “She stayed home from school with a high fever.”
What part of speech is “fever”?
“Fever” is a noun.
Where does the word “fever” come from?
The word “fever” comes from Latin. From Old English fefer and Old French fievre, both from Latin febris, from a very old root meaning "to burn.".
Is “fever” a common word?
“Fever” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “fever” have?
“Fever” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a body temperature higher than normal, usually caused by illness.
What is the difference between a fever and a high temperature?
The two overlap closely: a fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal, usually caused by illness, so having a fever means having a raised temperature. 'High temperature' is simply a plainer way of describing the same condition.
What is the difference between 'fever' and 'feverish'?
'Fever' is a noun naming the raised body temperature or a state of intense excitement. 'Feverish' is the adjective, describing a person who has a fever or an activity marked by restless, agitated energy, as in 'feverish preparations'.
Can 'fever' describe excitement rather than illness?
Yes. Besides the medical sense, 'fever' names a state of intense excitement or agitation, as in 'election fever' or 'the crowd was in a fever of anticipation'. Here it points to heightened emotion rather than body heat.
What verbs commonly go with 'fever'?
Common collocations include 'run a fever' and 'have a fever' for developing one, and 'break a fever' for when it subsides. You might also 'spike a fever' when the temperature rises suddenly.
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