febrile

Everyday

1. (medicine) Febrile means having a fever, a high body temperature. tree →
2. (formal) Febrile means nervous, excited and restless, often in a busy or tense way: «a febrile mood». tree →

In the lessons

In medicine and health lessons it is a doctor's word: «a febrile child» is one with a fever; febrile convulsions are fits some young children have during a high fever. In formal writing and the news it describes a tense, excited atmosphere. It is a rare, formal word.

Examples

• The doctor said the baby was febrile. tree →
• Febrile convulsions can happen with a high temperature. tree →
• The atmosphere in the crowd was febrile before the final. tree →
• The election campaign had a febrile mood. tree →
• A febrile patient needs fluids and rest. tree →
• The city was febrile with rumours. tree →

Note

Adjective; formal or medical. Pronounced «FEE-bryle» (UK) or «FEB-ril» (US). Everyday words: «feverish», «having a temperature». Opposite in medicine: afebrile (no fever). A normal body temperature is about 37 °C; a fever is usually 38 °C or more.