ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fatigue

n. · v.
US //fəˈtiɡ// UK //fɐtˈiːɡ// fa·tigue
  1. 1 extreme tiredness (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a feeling of being very tired, either in your body or your mind, after a lot of work or stress.

    extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness. Uncountable in its general sense.

    Example

    After working double shifts all week, she suffered from severe fatigue.

    Example

    The driver's fatigue was cited as a primary factor in the accident, as his reaction times were significantly impaired by lack of sleep.
  2. 2 material failure (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    weakness in metal or other materials caused by repeated stress, which can lead to breaking.

    the weakening or failure of a material, such as metal, caused by repeated cycles of stress or strain.

    Example

    The old bridge was closed because of metal fatigue in the main cables.

    Example

    Engineers conducted ultrasonic testing to detect signs of structural fatigue in the aircraft's fuselage before it was cleared for flight.
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  1. 3 military clothing (n.)
    C1 Advanced General-service

    strong clothes worn by soldiers when they are doing physical work rather than fighting.

    clothing worn by military personnel for manual labour or field duties, as opposed to dress uniforms. Usually plural.

    Example

    The soldiers changed into their fatigues to help clear the mud after the flood.

    Example

    The recruits spent the afternoon in their olive-drab fatigues, performing the repetitive manual tasks required to maintain the base perimeter.
  2. 4 to make tired (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to make someone feel very tired.

    to cause someone to become weary or exhausted through physical or mental effort.

    Example

    The long climb up the mountain fatigued the hikers.

    Example

    The intense heat and humidity quickly fatigued the marathon runners, forcing many to drop out before the halfway mark.
  3. 5 to wilt a salad (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Cooking

    to make salad leaves soft by adding dressing or heat.

    to cause salad greens to wilt, typically by applying a hot dressing or through vigorous tossing.

    Example

    The chef used a warm bacon dressing to fatigue the spinach leaves.

    Example

    To achieve the traditional texture of the dish, you must fatigue the greens just enough so they lose their crunch without becoming mushy.
Etymology 1

From French fatigue, from fatiguer, from Latin fatīgāre (“to weary, tire, vex, harass”).

Etymology 2

From French fatiguer, from Latin fatīgāre (“to weary, tire, vex, harass”).

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