Definition of nerve - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
inner strengthcourage or boldness in difficult situations
- She showed great nerve during the competition.
2.
psychologyfeelings of anxiety or stress
- His nerves were on edge before the exam.
3.
medicalTECH. bundle of fibers transmitting impulses in the bodyTECH.
- The doctor explained how the nerve was damaged.
4.
boldnessRare audacity or impudence in behaviorRare
- He had the nerve to ask for a raise.
Verb
1.
couragegive courage to face something difficult
- She nerved herself to speak in public.
2.
medicalTECH. supply with nerves or nerve-like structuresTECH.
- The surgeon nerved the damaged tissue.
Expressions with nerve
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display audacity in bold actions
He had nerve to ask for a raise on his first day.
boldness or audacity in someone's actions or words
He had some nerve to ask for a raise.
sensitive area of someone's emotions
His comment about her weight touched a raw nerve.
become too scared to do something
He wanted to ask her out but lost nerve.
regain courage or confidence after feeling afraid
After a break, she got her nerve back and tried again.
cause extreme irritation or annoyance to someone
He really gets on my last nerve when he talks loudly.
show boldness in a surprising way
She had a nerve to ask for a raise.
provoke strong reaction by bringing up a tender subject
His comment about her father hit a nerve immediately.
stay calm and brave in a difficult situation
Despite the shouting crowd, she kept her nerve and scored the final penalty.
stop an action because of fear or lost courage
He wanted to jump but lost his nerve.
become too scared to do something
She lost her nerve before the big presentation.
become anxious and lose confidence
Don't lose your nerve when the interviewer asks tough questions.
become too scared to act, pausing in a tough moment
At the cliff edge, his nerve failed and he backed away.
cause someone to react strongly by mentioning a sensitive topic
Her comment touched a raw nerve with him.
boldness or audacity in behavior
She had a lot of nerve to ask for a raise on her first day.
situation challenging courage or composure
The final exam was a test of nerve for all students.
dare to do something bold or rude
I can't believe he had the nerve to ask for a raise.
stay calm and confident in a difficult situation
She managed to hold her nerve during the exam.
great courage and calmness in dangerous situations
She showed nerve of steel during the rescue.
make every possible effort to achieve something
She strained every nerve to win the race.
touch on a sensitive topic
The discussion about layoffs struck a nerve among the employees.
provoke a strong emotional reaction
The politician's speech struck a raw nerve among the audience.
require courage or bravery to do something
It takes nerve to speak in front of a crowd.
used to express shock or anger at someone's audacity
The nerve of him to ask for a raise after being late every day!
Origin of nerve
Latin, nervus (sinew) + -e (noun suffix)
Terms with nerve included in their meaning
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body parts
ulnar nerve by the elbow that causes sharp pain or tingling
medical
ulnar nerve at the elbow causing tingling when hit
medical
medical treatment for joint, muscle, or nerve problems
figurative
intense or nerve-racking experience
bravery
courage or nerve, especially in British slang
courage
boldness or nerve
biology
transmission of impulses along a nerve
medical
eye disease damaging optic nerve, impairing vision
eye condition
group of eye diseases causing optic nerve damage
nutrition
nutrient essential for muscle and nerve function
biology
rapid signal traveling along a nerve cell using tiny charges
audacity
having the nerve to do something shocking
sensory system
ability to notice odor molecules using nasal nerve cells
medical
relating to the large nerve that runs from lower back to leg
nerve
audacity or boldness in a disrespectful way
neural pathway
bundle of nerve fibers in the brain
medical
brain tissue rich in nerve cells
neuroanatomy
greyish brain tissue with nerve cell bodies
emotion
cause someone to lose their nerve
vision process
membrane that converts light into nerve signals
neuroanatomy
conveying nerve impulses from sense organs to brain
biology
long nerve fiber conducting impulses from the cell body
medical
serious illness from bacteria causing nerve problems and food poisoning
neuroanatomy
broad band of nerve fibers connecting brain hemispheres
Examples of nerve in a sentence
It took nerve to dive from such a height. She felt her nerves calm after the speech. The actor's nerves were evident during the premiere. The nerve was pinched, causing severe pain. She studied the nerve under the microscope. She had the nerve to interrupt the meeting.
He showed nerve by confronting the manager. He nerved himself to ask for a promotion. They nerved themselves to confront the challenging situation. The doctor nerved the graft to ensure functionality. They nerved the prosthetic limb for better control.
View all translations of nerve
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:courage, se donner du courage, ...
- German:Mut, ermutigen, ...
- Italian:coraggio, farsi coraggio, ...
- Spanish:valor, armarse de valor, ...
- Portuguese:coragem, ganhar coragem, ...
- Chinese:勇气, 鼓起勇气, ...
- Japanese:勇気, 奮い立たせる, ...
- Arabic:شَجاعَة, شَحَذَ عَزيمَتَه, ...
- Hebrew:קוֹר רוּחַ, לֶאֱזוֹר אֹמֶץ, ...
- Russian:мужество, собираться с духом, ...
- Ukrainian:сміливість, наважитися, ...
- Hindi:साहस, साहस देना, ...
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