fever

1. (medicine) A higher than normal body temperature of a person (or, generally, a mammal), usually caused by disease.Examples: "There has been a rise in my fever. I think I've the flu."; "Proper nutrition – and even more important, proper hydration – is crucial in preventing and recovering from both fevers and colds. […] As Abramson explained, when we are sick, whether we have a fever or not, our metabolic rates skyrocket, and our bodies need more calories to support that high metabolic rate."Synonyms: high temperature, pyrexia, temperaturecountableuncountable

2. (usually in combination with one or more preceding words) Any of various diseases.Examples: "scarlet fever"countablein-compoundsuncountableusually

3. (neologism) A group of stingrays.Examples: "On the way back to the mainland the boat passed over a fever of stingrays, and the sight of them through the glass was enough to colour everything else, and outstrip it."; "They move like thoughts, like memory, like a Wes Anderson diorama of earthly delights: lionfish, an albacore, a fever of stingrays—and then like a wound, a sea turtle at eye level."; "She threw up her hands in excitement and the ball of water flew right into the pathway of the fever of stingrays."countableneologismuncountable

4. (in combination, slang, often derogatory) Sexual attraction towards a specific group of people.Examples: "Asian fever"; "clown fever"; "white fever"countablederogatoryin-compoundsoftenslanguncountable