fatigue

[fuh-teeg]

noun

1. weariness from bodily or mental exertion.

2. a cause of weariness; slow ordeal; exertion.

   the fatigue of driving for many hours.

3. Physiology.,  temporary diminution of the irritability or functioning of organs, tissues, or cells after excessive exertion or stimulation.

4. Civil Engineering.,  the weakening or breakdown of material subjected to stress, especially a repeated series of stresses.

5. Also called fatigue duty. Military.

   1. labor of a generally nonmilitary kind done by soldiers, such as cleaning up an area, digging drainage ditches, or raking leaves.

   2. the state of being engaged in such labor.

      on fatigue.

6. Military.,  fatigues. fatigues.

adjective

1. of or relating to fatigues or any clothing made to resemble them.

   The guerrilla band wore fatigue pants and field jackets.

   She brought fatigue shorts to wear on the hike.

verb (used with object)

fatigued, fatiguing 

1. to weary with bodily or mental exertion; exhaust the strength of.

   Endless chatter fatigues me.

   Synonyms: enervate, debilitate, tire

2. Civil Engineering.,  to subject (a material) to fatigue.

verb (used without object)

fatigued, fatiguing 

1. to become tired or exhausted.

2. Civil Engineering.,  (of a material) to undergo fatigue.

fatigue

/ ˈfætɪɡəbəl, fəˈtiːɡ /

noun

1. physical or mental exhaustion due to exertion

2. a tiring activity or effort

3. physiol the temporary inability of an organ or part to respond to a stimulus because of overactivity

4. the progressive cracking of a material subjected to alternating stresses, esp vibrations

5. the temporary inability to respond to a situation or perform a function, because of overexposure or overactivity

   compassion fatigue

6. 1. any of the mainly domestic duties performed by military personnel, esp as a punishment

   2. ( as modifier )

      fatigue duties

7. (plural) special clothing worn by military personnel to carry out such duties

verb

1. to make or become weary or exhausted

2. to crack or break (a material or part) by inducing fluctuating stresses in it, or (of a metal or part) to become weakened or fail as a result of fluctuating stresses

Other Word Forms

• fatigueless adjective
• fatigable adjective
• fatiguingly adverb
• antifatigue adjective
• unfatiguing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatigue¹

First recorded in 1685–95; from French verb fatiguer, from Latin fatīgāre “to tire”; noun derived from the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatigue¹

C17: from French, from fatiguer to tire, from Latin fatīgāre

Example Sentences

It was reported that she suffered from a debilitating infection known as the Epstein Barr virus, and from the chronic fatigue syndrome, ME.

From BBC

The RMT union has concerns about "fatigue management" - that is the stress that early and late shifts are having on the health of its members.

From BBC

That lawsuit said more than 2,200 National Guard troops are in Washington D.C., where they are seen dressed in military fatigues and carrying rifles around national monuments.

From Los Angeles Times

In August, the RMT union announced a seven-day strike from 5 September which they said was over pay, hours, shift management and fatigue.

From BBC

Although the people on the buses did not identify themselves, they were dressed in military fatigues and were speaking Hindi.

From BBC

Related Words

• disable 
• exhaust 
• jade 
• weaken