Nerve
/nɜːrv/noun
Bundles of fibers that send messages between your brain and the rest of your body.
The doctor said that a pinched nerve was causing the pain in his back.
Often appears as...
- pinched nerve
- nerve damage
Usage tips
Technical
noun
Courage or boldness.
You must have a lot of nerve to talk to the boss like that.
Often appears as...
- have a nerve
- lose one's nerve
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
Irritation or annoyance.
His constant humming is getting on my nerves.
Often appears as...
- get on someone's nerves
- have the nerve
Usage tips
Idiomatic
noun
Bundles of fibers that send messages between your brain and the rest of your body.
The doctor said that a pinched nerve was causing the pain in his back.
Often appears as...
- pinched nerve
- nerve damage
Usage tips
Technical
noun
Courage or boldness.
You must have a lot of nerve to talk to the boss like that.
Often appears as...
- have a nerve
- lose one's nerve
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
Irritation or annoyance.
His constant humming is getting on my nerves.
Often appears as...
- get on someone's nerves
- have the nerve
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Medical Context
Used mainly in medical or biological discussions to describe the physical anatomy.
The surgeon needed to be careful not to sever any nerves.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Painful
While nerves can be associated with pain, they also relate to all sensory experiences.
The cool breeze tingled her nerves with a refreshing sensation.
Pro Tip 3/3Technical Vocabulary
The word 'nerve' in medical context is often accompanied by specific terms like 'sensory' or 'motor'.
The physical therapist focused on exercises to strengthen his motor nerves.
Compare with
audacityboldbraveryconfidencecouragefortitudeguttamettle
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Video examples
The surprising reason...
which trigger two responses. First, the vagus nerve, which runs through the body into the brain, quickly transmits the information to the brain stem, passing near an important area of pain processing. Second, cytokines travel through the body to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling temperature,
Video examples
What happens during a...
especially those with diabetes, which affects the nerves that carry pain, a heart attack may be silent. If you think that someone might be having a heart attack, the most important thing is to respond quickly. If you have access to emergency medical services, call them. They're the fastest way to get to a hospital.
Video examples
Do schools kill...
By the way, there's a shaft of nerves that joins the two halves of the brain, called the corpus callosum. It's thicker in women. Following off from Helen yesterday, this is probably why women are better at multitasking. Because you are, aren't you? There's a raft of research, but I know it from my personal life.
Video examples
How a wound heals itself...
consists mostly of hardened cells, called keratinocytes, and provides protection. Since its outer layer is constantly being shed and renewed, it's pretty easy to repair. But sometimes a wound penetrates into the dermis, which contains blood vessels and the various glands and nerve endings
Video examples
Blueprint for a quiet...
talk touched a nerve and thousands and thousands of strangers started reaching out and sharing their own stories of accepting their introversion for the first time and those stories changed the course of my life so I'm going to tell you all about that but first I want to
Video examples
What causes cavities? -...
Gradually, acid wears down a pathway for bacteria into the tooth's secondary layer called the dentin. Since blood vessels and nerves in our teeth are enclosed deep within, at this stage, the expanding cavity doesn't hurt. But if the damage extends beyond the dentin,
Video examples
Brain 101 PIPE National...
that include the pons, a mass of nerve fibers that carry sensory information; the midbrain, a region of fibers and structures that help control movement, along with auditory and visual processing; and the medulla oblongata, which creates motor and sensory pathways
Video examples
Why do we itch? - Emma...
This enables increased blood flow, which helpfully accelerates the body's immune response to this perceived threat. That explains the swelling, and it's the same reason pollen can make your eyes puff up. Histamine also activates the nerves involved in itching,
Video examples
How Do Cats Use Their...
and the whiskers spring back again, the mouse doesn't have a chance. Far thicker and longer than normal hairs whiskers also sit three times deeper in the skin where they attach to nerve endings,
Video examples
Old Woman Is Master Sea...
It takes some nerve to wade in with no protective clothing. Sea snake venom can be ten times more powerful than a rattlesnake's.
Video examples
The surprising reason...
which trigger two responses. First, the vagus nerve, which runs through the body into the brain, quickly transmits the information to the brain stem, passing near an important area of pain processing. Second, cytokines travel through the body to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for controlling temperature,
Video examples
What happens during a...
especially those with diabetes, which affects the nerves that carry pain, a heart attack may be silent. If you think that someone might be having a heart attack, the most important thing is to respond quickly. If you have access to emergency medical services, call them. They're the fastest way to get to a hospital.
Video examples
Do schools kill...
By the way, there's a shaft of nerves that joins the two halves of the brain, called the corpus callosum. It's thicker in women. Following off from Helen yesterday, this is probably why women are better at multitasking. Because you are, aren't you? There's a raft of research, but I know it from my personal life.
Video examples
How a wound heals itself...
consists mostly of hardened cells, called keratinocytes, and provides protection. Since its outer layer is constantly being shed and renewed, it's pretty easy to repair. But sometimes a wound penetrates into the dermis, which contains blood vessels and the various glands and nerve endings
Video examples
Blueprint for a quiet...
talk touched a nerve and thousands and thousands of strangers started reaching out and sharing their own stories of accepting their introversion for the first time and those stories changed the course of my life so I'm going to tell you all about that but first I want to
Video examples
What causes cavities? -...
Gradually, acid wears down a pathway for bacteria into the tooth's secondary layer called the dentin. Since blood vessels and nerves in our teeth are enclosed deep within, at this stage, the expanding cavity doesn't hurt. But if the damage extends beyond the dentin,
Video examples
Brain 101 PIPE National...
that include the pons, a mass of nerve fibers that carry sensory information; the midbrain, a region of fibers and structures that help control movement, along with auditory and visual processing; and the medulla oblongata, which creates motor and sensory pathways
Video examples
Why do we itch? - Emma...
This enables increased blood flow, which helpfully accelerates the body's immune response to this perceived threat. That explains the swelling, and it's the same reason pollen can make your eyes puff up. Histamine also activates the nerves involved in itching,
Video examples
How Do Cats Use Their...
and the whiskers spring back again, the mouse doesn't have a chance. Far thicker and longer than normal hairs whiskers also sit three times deeper in the skin where they attach to nerve endings,
Video examples
Old Woman Is Master Sea...
It takes some nerve to wade in with no protective clothing. Sea snake venom can be ten times more powerful than a rattlesnake's.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kris Kristofferson
American Musician
Looking back, I'm surprised I had the nerve to do it, but I'm glad I did. Performing the songs and performing in film was just a part of my personality, just like football and boxing at one point in my life. I was able to lose myself in both of them, and that was a good feeling.
Quote examples
Shannon Purser
American Actress
I do think technology really has changed the way that we communicate with each other and texting can be the way to communicate and to kind of get up the nerve to say things that maybe you wouldn't say in real life, but that also comes with a price.
Quote examples
Swami Vivekananda
Indian Clergyman
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
Quote examples
Jaya Prada
Indian Actress
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life. Think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other thought. This is the way to success.
Quote examples
Julen Lopetegui
Spanish Athlete
Feeling a few nerves is necessary and positive. That tension is a good thing: it's a sign that you're doing something you like, that you're passionate about, and about which you have a great sense of responsibility and respect for.
Quote examples
Jerry Garcia
American Singer
If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a society, or whatever you need, whatever quality you need, real character, we would make an effort to really address the wrongs in this society, righteously.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
I have a feeling that I make a very good friend, and I'm a good mother, and a good sister, and a good citizen. I am involved in life itself - all of it. And I have a lot of energy and a lot of nerve.
Quote examples
Jessica Ennis-Hill
British Athlete
I love getting dressed up for red carpet events and having my hair and makeup done professionally - that definitely helps with nerves of going down the red carpet.
Quote examples
Etta James
American Musician
And as I started reaching deeper I realized that most of the blues of that day was done by men. Women just didn't have the nerve.
Quote examples
Katie Kitamura
American Novelist
I pretty much admire anybody who has the discipline and the will to make a career out of fighting. It takes buckets of nerve.
Quote examples
Kris Kristofferson
American Musician
Looking back, I'm surprised I had the nerve to do it, but I'm glad I did. Performing the songs and performing in film was just a part of my personality, just like football and boxing at one point in my life. I was able to lose myself in both of them, and that was a good feeling.
Quote examples
Shannon Purser
American Actress
I do think technology really has changed the way that we communicate with each other and texting can be the way to communicate and to kind of get up the nerve to say things that maybe you wouldn't say in real life, but that also comes with a price.
Quote examples
Swami Vivekananda
Indian Clergyman
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
Quote examples
Jaya Prada
Indian Actress
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life. Think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other thought. This is the way to success.
Quote examples
Julen Lopetegui
Spanish Athlete
Feeling a few nerves is necessary and positive. That tension is a good thing: it's a sign that you're doing something you like, that you're passionate about, and about which you have a great sense of responsibility and respect for.
Quote examples
Jerry Garcia
American Singer
If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a society, or whatever you need, whatever quality you need, real character, we would make an effort to really address the wrongs in this society, righteously.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
I have a feeling that I make a very good friend, and I'm a good mother, and a good sister, and a good citizen. I am involved in life itself - all of it. And I have a lot of energy and a lot of nerve.
Quote examples
Jessica Ennis-Hill
British Athlete
I love getting dressed up for red carpet events and having my hair and makeup done professionally - that definitely helps with nerves of going down the red carpet.
Quote examples
Etta James
American Musician
And as I started reaching deeper I realized that most of the blues of that day was done by men. Women just didn't have the nerve.
Quote examples
Katie Kitamura
American Novelist
I pretty much admire anybody who has the discipline and the will to make a career out of fighting. It takes buckets of nerve.
Example 1 of 10
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