nerve

Everyday

1. One of the long thin fibres in the body that carry messages between the brain and other parts, so we can feel and move. tree →
2. (nerve, uncountable) Courage to do something difficult or scary: «It took nerve to jump». tree →
3. (nerves) Feeling worried or nervous: «exam nerves». tree →
4. Rude boldness: «What a nerve!» tree →
5. To ache in every nerve means to feel sore and tired all over your body. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on the body: the brain, spinal cord and nerves make up the nervous system; nerves send signals so you feel pain or heat and pull your hand away. In stories and sport: «lose your nerve», «hold your nerve», «get on someone's nerves» (annoy them), «nerves of steel».

Examples

• Nerves carry messages from your skin to your brain. tree →
• The dentist numbed the nerve in my tooth. tree →
• It took a lot of nerve to sing on stage alone. tree →
• She lost her nerve at the top of the diving board. tree →
• I always get nerves before a test. tree →
• My brother's noisy game gets on my nerves. tree →
• He had the nerve to take my seat! tree →
• It must have lasted fully two hours, and Little Toomai ached in every nerve, but he knew by the smell of the night air that the dawn was coming. tree →

Note

The adjective is «nervous» (worried), not «nervy» (which can mean bold or jumpy). «Nerves» (plural) often means worry. The «funny bone» is really a nerve in your elbow, not a bone.