/ nɜːv; NAmE nɜːrv/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] any of the long threads that carry messages between the brain and parts of the body, enabling you to move, feel pain, etc. :
the optic nerve
nerve cells
nerve endings
Every nerve in her body was tense.
2.
nerves [ pl. ] feelings of worry or anxiety :
Even after years as a singer, he still suffers from nerves before a performance.
I need something to calm / steady my nerves .
Everyone's nerves were on edge (= everyone felt tense ) .
He lives on his nerves (= is always worried) .
3.
[ U ] the courage to do sth difficult or dangerous
SYN guts :
It took a lot of nerve to take the company to court.
I was going to have a go at parachuting but lost my nerve at the last minute.
He kept his nerve to win the final set 6–4.
4.
[ sing. , U ] ( informal ) a way of behaving that other people think is rude or not appropriate
SYN cheek :
I don't know how you have the nerve to show your face after what you said!
He's got a nerve asking us for money!
'Then she demanded to see the manager!' ' What a nerve! '
•
IDIOMS
- be a bag / bundle of nerves
- get on sb's nerves
- have nerves of steel
- hit / touch a (raw / sensitive) nerve
—more at brass , strain verb , war noun
■ verb
nerve yourself for sth / to do sth to give yourself the courage or strength to do sth :
[ vn to inf ]
He nerved himself to ask her out.
[also vn ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (also in the sense tendon, sinew ): from Latin nervus ; related to Greek neuron nerve (see neuron ).