51Թ

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View synonyms for

nerve

[ nurv ]

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.

  3. firmness or courage under trying circumstances:

    an assignment requiring nerve;

    to lose your nerve at the very last moment.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  4. He had the nerve to say that?

  5. nerves, nervousness:

    an attack of nerves.

  6. strength, vigor, or energy:

    a test of nerve and stamina.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  7. (not in technical use) pulp tissue of a tooth.
  8. Botany. a vein, as in a leaf.
  9. a line, or one of a system of lines, extending across something.


verb (used with object)

nerved, nerving.
  1. to give strength, vigor, or courage to:

    Encouragement had nerved him for the struggle.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

    Antonyms:

nerve

/ ɜː /

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 neural
  2. courage, bravery, or steadfastness
  3. lose one's nerve
    to become timid, esp failing to perform some audacious act
  4. informal.
    boldness or effrontery; impudence

    he had the nerve to swear at me

  5. muscle or sinew (often in the phrase strain every nerve )
  6. a large vein in a leaf
  7. any of the veins of an insect's wing
  8. touch a nerve or touch a raw nerve or hit a nerve or hit a raw nerve or strike a nerve or strike a raw nerve
    to mention or bring to mind a sensitive issue or subject
“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

verb

  1. to give courage to (oneself); steel (oneself)
  2. to provide with nerve or nerves
“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

nerve

/ û /

  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.

nerve

  1. 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.
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of nerve1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “nerve, tendon,” from Latin nervus “sinew, tendon”; akin to Greek ԱûDz ( neuron ); replacing Middle English nerf, from Middle French, from Latin, as above
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of nerve1

C16: from Latin nervus; related to Greek neuron; compare Sanskrit sinew
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. get on one's nerves, to irritate, annoy, or provoke one:

    Boisterous children get on my nerves.

  2. 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.

  3. bundle of nerves. bundle of nerves ( def ).

More idioms and phrases containing 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 .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He also suffered damage to his neck cartilage and nerves, preventing the choir member from singing.

From

The sizable check — made out to a small, unregistered charity overseen by a local politician — touched a nerve in a city on the watch for signs of foreign influence.

From

And it was on the back nine at Augusta - where so many Masters dreams have flourished and floundered - that Woad managed to keep her nerve.

From

Lee needed a par on the 18th to secure victory and managed it, holding his nerve to card a 67 and finish one shot clear on 20 under.

From

And when cool heads were required, his team came across as a bag of nerves, all too willing to get involved in cheap spats.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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

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