fatigue

¹fa·tigue

noun \fə-ˈtēg\

Definition of FATIGUE

1

a : labor

b : manual or menial work performed by military personnel

c plural : the uniform or work clothing worn on fatigue and in the field

2

a : weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress

b : the temporary loss of power to respond that is induced in a sensory receptor or motor end organ by continued stimulation

3

: the tendency of a material to break under repeated stress <metal fatigue>

Examples of FATIGUE

1. We were overcome by fatigue after the long journey.
2. The drug's side effects include headache and fatigue.
3. soldiers wearing combat boots and fatigues
4. The cracks in the engine were caused by metal fatigue.

Origin of FATIGUE

French, from Middle French, from fatiguer to fatigue, from Latin fatigare; akin to Latin affatim sufficiently

First Known Use: 1669

Related to FATIGUE

Synonyms

burnout, collapse, exhaustion, frazzle, lassitude, prostration, tiredness, weariness

Antonyms

refreshment, rejuvenation, rejuvenescence, revitalization

Related Words

debilitation, debility, disablement, enervation, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, infirmity, weakness; overfatigue; languor, lethargy, listlessness; sluggishness, slumber, stupor, torpidity, torpor; apathy, inertia, passiveness, passivity

Near Antonyms

bounce, dash, drive, energy, ginger, go, liveliness, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vigor, vim, vitality, zing, zip; might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, strength; briskness, jauntiness, spiritedness, sprightliness, vivaciousness, vivacity

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with FATIGUE

big-league, blitzkrieg, bush-league, colleague, garigue, intrigue, squeteague

²fatigue

verb

fa·tiguedfa·tigu·ing

Definition of FATIGUE

transitive verb

1

: to weary with labor or exertion

2

: to induce a condition of fatigue in

intransitive verb

: to suffer fatigue

— fa·tigu·ing·ly \-ˈtē-giŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of FATIGUE

1. <the rescue workers pressed on, though their efforts to reach the miners had almost completely fatigued them>

First Known Use of FATIGUE

1693

Related to FATIGUE

Synonyms

break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, fag, exhaust, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary

Related Words

debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken

Near Antonyms

activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize; relax, rest, unwind

See Synonym Discussion at tire

³fatigue

adjective

Definition of FATIGUE

1

: consisting of, done, or used in fatigue <fatigue detail>

2

: belonging to fatigues <a fatigue cap>

First Known Use of FATIGUE

1774

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

fatigue

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In engineering, manifestation of progressive fracture in a solid under cyclic loading, as in the case of a metal strip that ruptures after repeated bending back and forth (see metal fatigue). Fatigue fracture begins with one or several cracks that spread in the course of repeated application of forces until complete rupture suddenly occurs when the small unaffected portion is too weak to sustain the load. See also ductility, testing machine.