nerve

SayNURV/nɝv/UK/nɜːv/

14 meanings of nerve

1
nouncountable
A thin cord inside the body that carries messages between the brain and other parts.
Like a wire that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
The doctor said a nerve in his back was being squeezed.
Pain shot up her arm when the nerve was pinched.
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2
noununcountable
Brave confidence, especially the boldness to do something risky or rude.
Like the bravery you need to jump into deep water.
It took real nerve to stand up and speak first.
She had the nerve to ask for more money after only a week.
Similarcourage, boldness, audacity, guts, bravery
Oppositecowardice, timidity
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3
nouncountableplural
A feeling of worry or fear that leaves you tense and uneasy.
Like butterflies fluttering in your stomach before a big day.
Her nerves got worse as the exam drew closer.
He calmed his nerves with a few slow, deep breaths.
Similaranxiety, jitters, butterflies, tension
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4
noununcountable
The strength to keep going through something hard or tiring.
Like the steady energy that lets a runner finish a very long race.
Climbing all day takes real nerve and steady effort.
Only someone with great nerve could endure such a long, hard journey.
Similarstamina, fortitude, endurance, resilience
5
nouncountable or uncountableplural
Calm, steady control of yourself when things get hard or scary.
Like a steady hand that doesn't shake under pressure.
A pilot needs steady nerve to land safely in a storm.
Her nerve never cracked, even when everyone was watching.
Similarcomposure, steadiness, poise, cool
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6
verbtransitive
To make someone feel braver or more confident.
Like a pep talk that fills you with courage before a big moment.
A few kind words can nerve a shy child to try again.
She had to nerve herself to knock on the stranger's door.
Similarembolden, hearten, encourage, steel
Oppositediscourage, dishearten, unnerve, daunt
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7
verbtransitive
To give someone new strength or energy.
Like a big drink of water that gives a tired runner new energy.
A hot meal can nerve tired hikers for the climb ahead.
Rest nerved her aching body for another long day.
Similarstrengthen, fortify, invigorate, steel, brace
Oppositeweaken, enfeeble, exhaust
8
nounnonstandardcountable
A single cell that carries signals through the brain and body.
Like one tiny wire among billions in the body's network.
Each nerve sends tiny signals toward the brain.
A single nerve can connect to many others around it.
Similarneuron
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9
nouncountable
A line or vein running through a leaf, or the grain in a piece of wood.
Like the thin lines you can see on the back of a leaf.
Each leaf has a thick nerve running down its middle.
You can see every nerve when you hold the leaf up to the light.
Similarvein, grain
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10
noununcountable
The springy stiffness of raw rubber that makes it resist being shaped.
Like a rubber band that keeps snapping back to its old shape.
This rubber has too much nerve to roll out flat.
Workers reduce the nerve in the rubber before molding it.
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Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin nervus, meaning 'sinew'. One meaning as a verb was borrowed from German nerven.