nerve 
nerve (nʉrv)
noun
- a sinew or tendon: now only in the phr. strain every nerve, to try as hard as possible
- any of the cordlike fibers or bundles of fibers connecting the body organs with the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and parts of the nervous system with each other, and carrying impulses to and from the brain or a nerve center
- the pulp of a tooth, including the nerves, blood vessels, etc.
- emotional control; coolness in danger; courage a man of nerve
- strength; energy; vigor
- the nervous system regarded as indicating health, emotional stability, endurance, etc.
- nervousness
- an attack of this; hysteria
- Informal impudent boldness; audacity; brazenness
- Biol. a rib or vein in a leaf or insect's wing
Etymology: ME nerfe < OFr nerf < L nervus, sinew, nerve, string < IE base *(s)nēu-, to twist, wind > Gr neuron, tendon, nerve, OE sneowan, to hurry
transitive verb nerved, nerv′·ing
to give strength or courage to
get on someone's nerves
Informal to make someone irritable or exasperated
nerve oneself
to collect one's energies or courage for an effort
nerve
n.
The path of nervous impulses
nerve fiber, nerve tissue, nerve filament, nerve cord, nervure, venation; see also tissue 3.Types of nerves include: motor, sensory, afferent, efferent, mixed, excitatory, inhibitory, vasomotor, somatic.
The twelve cranial nerves of the human body are: olfactory, optic, oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal, abducent, facial, vestibulocochlear, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, hypoglossal.
Courage
resolution, spirit, mettle; see courage 1.Impudence
temerity, audacity, effrontery; see rudeness. See syn. study at temerity.
Converse of object
- fray: Our revitalizing and reviving therapy for those wanting to soothe frayed nerves and combat travel fatigue and jet lag.
- jangle: We draw the line, however, at Aussie Rules; references to Australian sports jangle a few nerves at the Bank!
- calm: So they added a fourth day to calm the nerves of everyone.
- soothe: PFN offer " Sarajevo " , a more passive, calming mood piece which soothes the nerves.
- stimulate: At the same time, it stimulates the sympathetic nerves to squeeze the circulatory system.
Adjective modifier
- optic: The anatomy of the visual pathway The optic nerves carry visual signals from each eye into the head.
- sciatic: The sciatic nerve arises in the pelvis - more info.
- cranial: This is when a small muscle in the ear, which is also controlled by the 7th cranial nerve, stops working temporarily too.
- trapped: The main aim of surgery is to relieve compression of trapped nerves.
- auditory: From here, the ' sound message ' is passed along the auditory nerve to the brain.
- trigeminal: The most frequently involved cranial nerve dermatome is the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve.
Modifies a noun
- ending: These nerve endings or ' reflex points ' are related to various zones of the body.
- impulse: The nerve impulses cause the muscles to contract, thus narrowing the airway.
- conduction: However, the term also covers nerve conduction studies - testing the electrical function of nerves in the limbs.
- fiber: The optic nerve is made up of thousands of nerve fibers.
- stimulation: We also need to limit the changing magnetic fields that the body experiences since these can cause uncomfortable nerve stimulation.
- cell: These motor nerve cell bodies are in the front pole of the white matter.
Noun used with modifier
- vagus: The vagus nerve is used to slow down the heart.
- sarin: Potential news reports of soldiers writhing in agony from a cloud of sarin nerve gas had spooked the president and his commanders.
- pre-concert: Usually, this is the time you start panicking about the tricky bits, the time for early pre-concert nerves.
Well, I will scourge those apes, And to these courteous eyes oppose a mirror, As large as is the stage whereon we act; Where they shall see the time's deformity Anatomised in every nerve, and sinew, With constant courage, and contempt of fear.
It is only when you get to see and realize what India isöthat she is the strength and the greatness of Englandöthat you feel that every nerve a man may strain, every energy he may put forward, cannot be devoted to a nobler purpose than keeping tight the cords that hold India to ourselves.
For she was suffering that misery peculiar to the young, that they are going to be cheated by circumstances out of the full life every nerve and instinct is clamouring for.
Meöwho am as a nerve o'er which do creep The else unfelt oppressions of this earth.
Artists and poets are the raw nerve ends of humanity. By themselves they can do little to save humanity.Without them there would be little worth saving.
Browse dictionary entries near nerve
- nerve block ›
- nerve cell ›
- nerve center ›
- nerve fiber ›
- nerve gas ›
- nerve impulse ›
- nerve net ›
- nerve oneself ›
- nerve-racking ›
- nerveless ›
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