[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/nerve/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [N](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/n/) / nerve

# nerve

noun (a nerve, nerves)

«nerve» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#m1)
2. (nerve, uncountable) Courage to do something difficult or scary: «It took nerve to jump». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#m2)
3. (nerves) Feeling worried or nervous: «exam nerves». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#m3)
4. Rude boldness: «What a nerve!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#m4)
5. To ache in every nerve means to feel sore and tired all over your body. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#m5)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x1)
- The dentist numbed the nerve in my tooth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x2)
- It took a lot of nerve to sing on stage alone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x3)
- She lost her nerve at the top of the diving board. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x4)
- I always get nerves before a test. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x5)
- My brother's noisy game gets on my nerves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x6)
- He had the nerve to take my seat! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x7)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/#x8)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «nerve» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nerve/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«nerve» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nerve.html) on Mova free.