Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: ILLNESS AND DISABILITY

Date: 900-1000
Language: Latin
Origin: febris

fever

 noun
     
fe‧ver
1 [uncountable and countable]MI an illness or a medical condition in which you have a very high temperature:
Andy has a fever and won't be coming into work today.
I woke up this morning with a fever and an upset stomach.
She's running a fever (=has a fever).
a high/low/slight fever
The usual symptoms are a pink rash with a slight fever.
➔ hay fever, scarlet fever, yellow fever, glandular fever, rheumatic fever
2 [singular] a situation in which many people feel very excited or feel very strongly about something
fever of
a fever of excitement on Wall Street
election/carnival etc fever (=great interest or excitement about a particular activity or event)
Soccer fever has been sweeping the nation as they prepare for the World Cup.
3

(at) fever pitch

British English if people's feelings are at fever pitch, they are extremely excited:
The nation was at fever pitch in the days leading up to the election.
After a night of rioting, tensions in the city reached fever pitch.
Definition of fever from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic ILLNESS AND DISABILITY
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