fever

¹fe·ver

noun \ˈfē-vər\

Definition of FEVER

1

a : a rise of body temperature above the normal

b : any of various diseases of which fever is a prominent symptom

2

a : a state of heightened or intense emotion or activity

b : a contagious usually transient enthusiasm : craze

Examples of FEVER

1. The symptoms of the disease include headache and fever.
2. We waited in a fever of anticipation.
3. He had us all in a fever with worry.

Origin of FEVER

Middle English, from Old English fēfer, from Latin febris

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FEVER

Synonyms

affection, ail, ailment, bug, complaint, complication, condition, disorder, distemper, distemperature, disease, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble

Antonyms

health, wellness

Related Words

contagion, contagious disease; contagium, infection; attack, bout, fit, spell; debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness; malaise, matter, pip; epidemic, pest, pestilence, plague

Near Antonyms

fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness; fettle, shape

Rhymes with FEVER

beaver, cleaver, griever, heaver, leaver, reaver, reiver, weaver

²fever

verb

fe·veredfe·ver·ing \ˈfē-vriŋ, ˈfe-vər-iŋ\

Definition of FEVER

transitive verb

: to throw into a fever : agitate

intransitive verb

: to contract or be in a fever : become feverish

First Known Use of FEVER

1606

fever

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Abnormally high body temperature or a disease characterized by it. It most often occurs with infection. Normal core body temperature, measured orally, does not exceed 99°F (37.2°C). Up to 105°F (40.6°C), fever causes weakness and is best treated with aspirin, acetaminophen, or other antipyretic drugs. At 108°F (42.2°C) or more, it can lead to convulsions and death. In treatment, it is important to know the underlying cause. Fever appears to be a defense against infectious disease, stimulating leukocytes and increasing antibody production and perhaps killing or inhibiting bacteria and viruses that live within a narrow temperature range.

Variants of FEVER

fever or pyrexia