nerve /nûrv/

1. A cord consisting of bundles of fibres that conveys impulses of sensation or movement between the brain or other centre and some part of the body (anatomy)
2. Self-possession
3. Cool courage
4. Impudent assurance, audacity (informal)
5. (in pl) nervousness, anxiety
6. (in pl) a disordered nervous system, esp when unable to deal successfully with emotional stress or tension
7. A sore or sensitive spot or point
8. A sinew (now chiefly figurative)
9. A bowstring (poetic)
10. Strength
11. A leaf-vein or rib (botany)
12. A nervure in an insect's wing (zoology)
13. A vault rib (architecture)

To give strength, resolution, or courage to (oneself, etc)

nervˈal adjective

Of the nerves

nerˈvate adjective

1. (of a leaf) having veins
2. Nerved

nervāˈtion or nervˈature noun

1. Disposition of nerves, esp in leaves
2. Venation

nerved adjective

Supplied with nerves

nerveˈless adjective

1. Without nerves or nervures
2. Without strength
3. Inert
4. Slack, flabby
5. Unnerved
6. Without nervousness, calm

nerveˈlessly adverb

nerveˈlessness noun

nerveˈlet noun

1. A little nerve
2. A tendril

nervˈer noun

Someone who or something which nerves

nervˈily adverb

nervˈine /-ēn or -īn/ adjective

1. Acting on the nerves
2. Quieting nervous excitement

A substance, esp a herbal remedy, that soothes nervous excitement

nervˈiness noun

nervˈous adjective

1. Relating to the nerves
2. Having the nerves easily excited or weak, agitated and apprehensive (often with of)
3. Caused by such a temperament or nervousness (such as nervous energy)
4. In a jumpy state
5. Shy
6. Timid
7. Having nerve
8. Sinewy
9. Strong, vigorous, showing strength and vigour

nervˈously adverb

nervˈousness noun

nervˈūlar adjective

nervˈūle noun

A small branch of a nervure

nervūrāˈtion noun

nervˈure noun

1. A leaf-vein
2. A chitinous strut or rib supporting and strengthening an insect's wing (zoology)
3. A rib of a groined vault (architecture)

nervˈy adjective

1. Nervous
2. Jumpily excited or excitable
3. Calling for nerve or courage
4. Cool
5. Impudent or audacious (N Am inf)

nerve agent noun

A nerve gas or similar substance

nerve block noun

Local anaesthesia produced by injecting an anaesthetic into the nerve or nerves supplying that part of the body

nerve cell noun

1. Any cell forming part of the nervous system
2. A neuron

nerve centre noun

1. An aggregation of nerve cells from which nerves branch out
2. (in an organization) the centre from which control is exercised (figurative)

nerve cord noun

A cord of nerve tissue that runs the length of an animal's body

nerve end or nerve ending noun

The free end of a nerve, generally with accessory parts forming an end organ

nerve fibre noun

An axon

nerve gas noun

Any of a number of gases, prepared for use in war, having a deadly effect on the nervous system, esp on nerves controlling respiration

nerve impulse or nervous impulse noun

The electrical impulse passing along a nerve fibre when it has been stimulated

nerve net noun

A network of neurons in invertebrates forming a simple nervous system

nerveˈ-racking or nerveˈ-wracking adjective

Distressfully straining the nerves

nervous breakdown noun

1. A loose term indicating nervous debility following prolonged mental or physical fatigue
2. A euphemism for any mental illness

nervous impulse see nerve impulse above.

nervous system noun

The brain, spinal cord and nerves collectively

nervous wreck noun (informal)

A very timid, anxious and jumpy person, esp when unable to deal successfully with stress or tension

bundle of nerves (informal)

A very timid, anxious person

get on one's nerves (informal)

To become oppressively irritating

live on one's nerves

1. To be (constantly) in a tense or nervous state
2. To be of an excitable temperament

lose one's nerve

1. To lose confidence in one's ability
2. To become suddenly afraid

war of nerves see under war¹

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