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nausea

n.
US //ˈnɔziə// UK //nˈɔːsɪɐ// nau·sea
  1. 1 feeling sick (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    the feeling in your stomach that makes you want to vomit.

    a sensation of digestive discomfort characterized by an urge to vomit. Often uncountable when referring to the general state.

    Example

    The long, winding road gave her a terrible feeling of nausea.

    Example

    The patient reported persistent nausea and dizziness following the administration of the new medication, though no actual vomiting occurred.

  2. 2 disgust (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    a strong feeling of dislike or being grossed out by something.

    a feeling of intense revulsion or loathing toward a person, idea, or situation.

    Example

    He felt a wave of nausea at the thought of the cruel crime.

    Example

    The blatant corruption within the local government filled the citizens with a sense of moral nausea.

Origin

From Middle English nausea, a borrowing from Latin nausea, from Ancient Greek ναυσία (nausía, “sea-sickness”), from ναῦς (naûs, “ship”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₂-. Displaced native Old English wlǣtta.

Word family

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