nerve

nerve  (nûrv)

n.

1. Any of the cordlike bundles of fibers made up of neurons through which sensory stimuli and motor impulses pass between the brain or other parts of the central nervous system and the eyes, glands, muscles, and other parts of the body. Nerves form a network of pathways for conducting information throughout the body.

2. The sensitive tissue in the pulp of a tooth.

3. A sore point or sensitive subject: The criticism touched a nerve.

4.

a. Courage and control under pressure: lost his nerve at the last minute.

b. Fortitude; stamina.

c. Forceful quality; boldness.

d. Brazen boldness; effrontery: had the nerve to deny it.

5. nerves Nervous agitation caused by fear, anxiety, or stress: an attack of nerves.

6. A vein or rib in the wing of an insect.

7. The midrib and larger veins in a leaf.

tr.v. nerved, nerv·ing, nerves

To give strength or courage to.

Idioms:

get on (someone's) nerves

To irritate or exasperate.

strain every nerve

To make every effort.

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[Middle English, sinew, nerve, from Old French nerf, from Medieval Latin nervus, from Latin; see (s)neu- in Indo-European roots.]

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nerve

Noun

1. a cordlike bundle of fibres that conducts impulses between the brain and other parts of the body

2. bravery and determination

3. Informal impudence: you've got a nerve!

4. lose one's nerve to lose self-confidence and become afraid about what one is doing

5. strain every nerve to make every effort (to do something)

Verb

[nerving, nerved]

nerve oneself to prepare oneself (to do something difficult or unpleasant)

See also nerves [Latin nervus]

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nerve  (nûrv)

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.

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Nerve of neighbors—Lipton, 1970.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	nerve - any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body nervus radicle - (anatomy) a small structure resembling a rootlet (such as a fibril of a nerve) nerve fiber, nerve fibre - a threadlike extension of a nerve cell synapse - the junction between two neurons (axon-to-dendrite) or between a neuron and a muscle; "nerve impulses cross a synapse through the action of neurotransmitters" efferent, efferent nerve, motor nerve - a nerve that conveys impulses toward or to muscles or glands afferent, afferent nerve, sensory nerve - a nerve that passes impulses from receptors toward or to the central nervous system fasciculus, fiber bundle, fibre bundle, fascicle - a bundle of fibers (especially nerve fibers) cranial nerve - any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem depressor nerve, depressor - any nerve whose activity tends to reduce the activity or tone of the body part it serves musculospiral nerve, nervus radialis, radial nerve - largest branch of the brachial plexus; extends down the humerus to the lateral epicondyle where it divides into one branch that goes to the skin on the back of the hand and another that goes to the underlying extensor muscles splanchnic nerve - any of several nerves of the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system that innervate viscera and blood vessels nervus ischiadicus, sciatic nerve - arises from the sacral plexus and passes about halfway down the thigh where it divides into the common peroneal and tibial nerves nervus saphenus, saphenous nerve - a branch of the femoral nerve that supplies cutaneous branches to the inner aspect of the leg and foot cubital nerve, nervus ulnaris, ulnar nerve - a nerve running along the inner side of the arm and passing near the elbow; supplies intrinsic muscles of the hand and the skin of the medial side of the hand nervus spinalis, spinal nerve - any of the 31 pairs of nerves emerging from each side of the spinal cord (each attached to the cord by two roots: ventral and dorsal)
	2.	nerve - the courage to carry on; "he kept fighting on pure spunk"; "you haven't got the heart for baseball" mettle, spunk, heart braveness, bravery, courage, courageousness - a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
	3.	nerve - impudent aggressiveness; "I couldn't believe her boldness"; "he had the effrontery to question my honesty" boldness, brass, cheek, face aggressiveness - the quality of being bold and enterprising audaciousness, audacity - aggressive boldness or unmitigated effrontery; "he had the audacity to question my decision"
Verb	1.	nerve - get ready for something difficult or unpleasant steel brace, poise - prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult

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nerve

noun 1. bravery, courage, spirit, bottle Brit. (slang) resolution, daring, determination, guts (informal) pluck, grit, fortitude, vigour, coolness, balls (taboo), (slang) mettle, firmness, spunk (informal) fearlessness, steadfastness, intrepidity, hardihood, gameness

noun 2. (Informal) impudence, face (informal) front, neck (informal) sauce (informal) cheek (informal) brass (informal) gall, audacity, boldness, temerity, chutzpah U.S., Canad. (informal) insolence, impertinence, effrontery, brass neck Brit. (informal) brazenness, sassiness U.S. (slang)

plural noun 3. (Informal) tension, stress, strain, anxiety, butterflies (in your stomach) (informal) nervousness, cold feet (informal) heebie-jeebies (slang) worry

nerve yourself brace yourself, prepare yourself, steel yourself, fortify yourself, gear yourself up, gee yourself up >> technical name neuron or neurone >> adjective neural

Translations

nerve [nəːv] n (ANAT) → nervio (= courage); valor m (= impudence); descaro, frescura;

a fit of nerves → un ataque de nervios;

to lose one's nerve (= self-confidence) → perder el valor

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nerve [nəːv] n → nerf m (= bravery); sang-froid m, courage m (= cheek); aplomb m, toupet m;

nerves npl (= nervousness) → nervosité f;

he gets on my nerves → il m'énerve;

to have a fit of nerves → avoir le trac;

to lose one's nerve (= self-confidence) → perdre son sang-froid

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nerve [nəːv] n (Anat) → Nerv m (= courage); Mut m (= impudence); Frechheit f;

nerves npl (= anxiety) → Nervosität f (= emotional strength); Nerven pl;

he gets on my nerves → er geht mir auf die Nerven;

to lose one's nerve → die Nerven verlieren

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nerve [nəːv] n → nervo;

(fig) → coraggio (= impudence); faccia tosta;

he gets on my nerves → mi dà ai nervi, mi fa venire i nervi;

a fit of nerves → una crisi di nervi;

to lose one's nerve (= self-confidence) → perdere fiducia in se stesso;

I lost my nerve (= courage) → mi è mancato il coraggio