/ ˈfiːvə(r); NAmE / noun
1.
[ C , U ] a medical condition in which a person has a temperature that is higher than normal :
He has a high fever.
Aspirin should help reduce the fever.
—compare temperature
2.
[ C , U ] ( old-fashioned ) (used mainly in compounds) a particular type of disease in which sb has a high temperature :
She caught a fever on her travels in Africa, and died.
—see also glandular fever , hay fever , rheumatic fever , scarlet fever , yellow fever
3.
[ sing. ] fever (of sth) a state of nervous excitement :
He waited for her arrival in a fever of impatience.
4.
[ U ] (especially in compounds) great interest or excitement about sth :
election fever
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English fēfor , from Latin febris ; reinforced in Middle English by Old French fievre , also from febris .