■ noun
1》 a fibre or bundle of fibres in the body that transmits impulses of sensation between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.
2》 ( one's ~ or ~s ) one's steadiness and courage.
3》 ( ~s ) nervousness.
4》 informal impudence.
5》 Botany a prominent unbranched rib in a leaf, especially the midrib of the leaf of a moss.
■ verb ( ~ oneself ) brace oneself for a demanding situation.
Phrases
get on someone's ~s informal irritate someone.
touch (or hit ) a (raw) ~ refer to a sensitive topic.
Derivatives
-~d adjective
Origin
ME: from L. nervus ; related to Gk neuron '~' (see neuron ).