fatigue: Meaning and Definition of

fa•tigue

Pronunciation: (fu-tēg'), [key]
— n., adj., v., -tigued, -ti•guing.
—n.
  1. weariness from bodily or mental exertion.
  2. a cause of weariness; slow ordeal; exertion: the fatigue of driving for many hours.
  3. temporary diminution of the irritability or functioning of organs, tissues, or cells after excessive exertion or stimulation.
  4. the weakening or breakdown of material subjected to stress, esp. a repeated series of stresses.
  5. Also called on fatigue.
    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. See
—adj.
  1. of or pertaining 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.
—v.t.
  1. to weary with bodily or mental exertion; exhaust the strength of: Endless chatter fatigues me.
  2. to subject (a material) to fatigue.
—v.i.
  1. to become fatigued.
  2. (of a material) to undergo fatigue.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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