# fever

Pronunciation: US say "FEE-vur" /ˈfivɚ/; UK say "FEE-vuh" /ˈfiːvə/

## Noun

1. An abnormally high body temperature in a person or other mammal, usually caused by disease.
   - Simple: A body temperature that is higher than normal, usually caused by illness.
   - _A high fever can be dangerous if it is not brought down quickly._
   - _The doctor checked whether her fever had broken overnight._
2. A state of heightened excitement or anxiety.
   - Simple: A strong feeling of excitement or worry.
   - _By election night the whole city was caught up in a fever of anticipation._
   - _A fever of speculation followed the company's sudden announcement._
3. Any of various particular diseases, such as yellow fever, scarlet fever, or typhoid.
   - Simple: Any of several diseases, such as yellow fever or typhoid.
   - _The expedition was decimated by a fever none of the doctors could identify._
   - _Port towns were once breeding grounds for fevers carried by mosquitoes._
6. Sexual attraction toward people of one specific group, used after a word naming that group. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Sexual interest in people from one certain group, used after a word that names the group.
   - _Clown fever is a running joke on the comedy podcast, where one host admits a soft spot for anyone in face paint._
   - _The essay argues that white fever in some dating circles is treated as a compliment when it is really a stereotype._
7. A gathering or group of stingrays.
   - Simple: A group of stingrays swimming together.
   - _A fever of stingrays swept silently over the lagoon floor._
   - _The aquarium's newest tank holds a fever of stingrays that visitors can touch as they lean over the rail._

## Verb

4. To develop a fever or become feverish.
   - Simple: To start to have a fever.
   - _After the transplant, she continued to fever off and on for three days._
   - _He fevered overnight, and by morning the ward had started him on antibiotics._
5. To cause someone to have a fever or to be affected by one.
   - Simple: To make someone have a fever.
   - _Fevered by an infected cut, he slept through most of the week._
   - _Bad water fevered half the crew before they reached port._

## Origin

From Middle English "fever," from Old English "fefer" and Old French "fievre," both from Latin "febris" (a fever), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰegʷʰ- ("to burn"). It replaced the native Old English word "hriþ," and it is related to German "Fieber," Danish "feber," and Swedish "feber."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/fever (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).