Definitions for nerve
nɜrvnerve

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. nerve, nervus(noun)

   any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body

2. heart, mettle, nerve, spunk(noun)

   the courage to carry on

   "he kept fighting on pure spunk"; "you haven't got the heart for baseball"

3. boldness, nerve, brass, face, cheek(verb)

   impudent aggressiveness

   "I couldn't believe her boldness"; "he had the effrontery to question my honesty"

4. steel, nerve(verb)

   get ready for something difficult or unpleasant

Wiktionary(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. nerve(Noun)

   A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics.

   The nerves can be seen through the skin.

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

2. nerve(Noun)

   A neuron.

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

3. nerve(Noun)

   A vein in a leaf; a grain in wood

   Some plants have ornamental value because of their contrasting nerves

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

4. nerve(Noun)

   Courage, boldness.

   He hasn't the nerve to tell her he likes her, what a wimp!

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

5. nerve(Noun)

   Patience.

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

6. nerve(Noun)

   Stamina, endurance, fortitude.

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

7. nerve(Noun)

   Audacity, gall.

   He had the nerve to enter my house uninvited.

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

8. nerve(Noun)

   Agitation caused by fear, stress or other negative emotion.

   Ellie had a bad case of nerves before the big test.

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

9. nerve(Verb)

   To give courage; sometimes with "up".

   May their example nerve us to face the enemy.

   Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

10. nerve(Verb)

    To give strength

    The liquor nerved up several of the men after their icy march.

    Etymology: Recorded since circa 1374, from nervus, from nervus.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Nerve(noun)

   one of the whitish and elastic bundles of fibers, with the accompanying tissues, which transmit nervous impulses between nerve centers and various parts of the animal body

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

2. Nerve(noun)

   a sinew or a tendon

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

3. Nerve(noun)

   physical force or steadiness; muscular power and control; constitutional vigor

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

4. Nerve(noun)

   steadiness and firmness of mind; self-command in personal danger, or under suffering; unshaken courage and endurance; coolness; pluck; resolution

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

5. Nerve(noun)

   audacity; assurance

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

6. Nerve(noun)

   one of the principal fibrovascular bundles or ribs of a leaf, especially when these extend straight from the base or the midrib of the leaf

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

7. Nerve(noun)

   one of the nervures, or veins, in the wings of insects

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

8. Nerve(verb)

   to give strength or vigor to; to supply with force; as, fear nerved his arm

   Etymology: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ney^ron sinew, nerve; cf. neyra` string, bowstring; perh. akin to E. needle. Cf. Neuralgia.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Nerve

   A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system. A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons to peripheral organs. In the central nervous system, the analogous structures are known as tracts. Neurons are sometimes called nerve cells, though this term is potentially misleading since many neurons do not form nerves, and nerves also include non-neuronal Schwann cells that coat the axons in myelin. Each nerve is a cordlike structure that contains many axons. These axons are often referred to as "fibres". Within a nerve, each axon is surrounded by a layer of connective tissue called the endoneurium. The axons are bundled together into groups called fascicles, and each fascicle is wrapped in a layer of connective tissue called the perineurium. Finally, the entire nerve is wrapped in a layer of connective tissue called the epineurium.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Nerve

   nėrv, n. bodily strength, firmness, courage: (anat.) one of the fibres which convey sensation from all parts of the body to the brain: (bot.) one of the fibres or ribs in the leaves of plants: a trade term for a non-porous quality of cork, slightly charred: (pl.) hysterical nervousness.—v.t. to give strength or vigour to: to arm with force.—adj. Nerv′al.—ns. Nervā′tion, the arrangement or distribution of nerves, esp. those of leaves; Nerve′-cell, any cell forming part of the nervous system, esp. one of those by means of which nerve-fibres are connected with each other; Nerve′-cen′tre, a collection of nerve-cells from which nerves branch out.—adj. Nerved, furnished with nerves, or with nerves of a special character, as 'strong-nerved.'—n. Nerve′-fī′bre, one of the essential thread-like units of which a nerve is composed.—adj. Nerve′less, without strength.—n. Nerve′lessness.—adj. Nerv′ine, acting on the nerves: quieting nervous excitement.—n. a medicine that soothes nervous excitement.—adjs. Nerv′ous, having nerve: sinewy: strong, vigorous, showing strength and vigour: pertaining to the nerves: having the nerves easily excited or weak; Nerv′ous, Nervose′, Nerved (bot.) having parallel fibres or veins.—adv. Nerv′ously.—n. Nerv′ousness.—adj. Nerv′ūlar.—ns. Nerv′ūle, a small nerve, a small vein of an insect's wing—also Nervulet, Veinlet, Venule; Nerv′ure, one of the nerves or veins of leaves: one of the horny tubes or divisions which expand the wings of insects: one of the ribs in a groined vault: a projecting moulding.—adj. Nerv′y, strong, vigorous.—Nervous system (anat.), the brain, spinal cord, and nerves collectively: the whole of the nerves and nerve-centres of the body considered as related to each other, and fitted to act together. [Fr.,—L. nervus; Gr. neuron, a sinew.]

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. NERVE

   Breaking the hair-brush on the disobedient scion, then making him pay for a new one. See revised version, "Spare the rod and spoil the hair-brush!"

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'nerve' in Nouns Frequency: #1559

Anagrams for nerve »

1. never

How to pronounce nerve?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say nerve in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of nerve in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of nerve in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of nerve in a Sentence

1. Endre Sik:

   Domestic and foreign conflicts have reached a level that many people could not ignore further, the proposed Internet tax had hit a nerve, compounding clashes with the Norwegians and especially the U.S.

2. Halland Chen:

   Within 15 to 25 minutes we've frozen away the nerve and the patient will know immediately if they have good results.

3. John Carey:

   I'm inclined to think we'll reach some agreements and move forward... but certainly there's a lot of posturing and positioning, and it can be a little nerve-racking for investors who are wondering which companies and which countries might be affected and how.

4. Ben Neumann:

   (Lassa) survivors often report signs of nerve damage such as loss of hearing.

5. Mary Lou Marzian:

   When I put this out here, I thought, you know, I will strike a nerve because what is more sacred to men than their ability to have sexual intercourse? let's regulate that.

Images & Illustrations of nerve

Popularity rank by frequency of use