an allergic reaction to pollen, dust, etc, characterized by sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes due to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ˈhay ˌfe•ver, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Pathologyallergic irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, throat, and lungs, caused by plant pollen.
hay′ fe′ver, [Pathol.]
- Pathologya type of allergic rhinitis affecting the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract, affecting susceptible persons usually during the summer, caused by pollen of ragweed and certain other plants.
- 1820–30
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'hay fever' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
allergic rhinitis
- allergy
- brompheniramine
- cromolyn sodium
- cyproheptadine
- ephedrine
- pollen count
- pollenosis
- pollinosis
- ragweed
- reagin
- rose fever
- shot