noun
fever
FEE-ver/ˈfiːvər/
An elevation of body temperature above its normal range.
She has a fever and stays home from work today.
Etymology
Latin febris already meant “fever” and is related to fovere, “to warm, heat.” That connection emphasizes the raised body temperature that defines this sense.
In context
symptoms appear like a common virus— high fever, chills, headache, and body aches.
More examples
- The nurse checks his temperature to see if he has a fever.
- Her fever goes down after she takes the medicine.
- Children sometimes develop fevers when they have an infection.
Forms
fever · fevers
feverish adjective — Having or showing signs of fever.
Similar words
- temperature
- Can mean fever informally, especially in the phrase “a temperature.”