Panic Definition
pănĭk
panicked, panicking, panics
noun
panics
Any of several grasses (genus Panicum), as millet, used as fodder.
Webster's New World
A sudden, unreasoning, hysterical fear, often spreading quickly.
Webster's New World
A state of extreme anxiety, such as that involved in a panic attack.
American Heritage Medicine
A state of frantic activity, usually accompanied by extreme concern or anxiety.
The office was in a panic as the deadline approached.
American Heritage
A widespread fear of the collapse of the financial system, resulting in unreasoned attempts to turn property into cash, withdraw money, etc.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
adjective
Of, relating to, or resulting from sudden, overwhelming terror.
Panic flight.
American Heritage
Of Pan.
Webster's New World
Of sudden fear, as supposedly inspired by Pan.
Webster's New World
Having the nature of, or showing or resulting from, panic.
Webster's New World
Wiktionary
verb
panicked, panics
To affect or be affected with panic.
American Heritage
To affect with panic.
Webster's New World
To give way to or show panic.
Webster's New World
To convulse (a listener, audience, etc.) with laughter, delight, etc.
Webster's New World
To feel overwhelming fear.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
idiom
push the panic button
- to panic; specif., to react to a crisis with some frantic, often disastrous action
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Panic
- push the panic button
Origin of Panic
From Middle French panique, from Ancient Greek πανικός (panikos, “pertaining to Pan"), from Πάν (Pan, “Pan"). Pan is the god of woods and fields who was the source of mysterious sounds that caused contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds, or in people in lonely spots.
From Wiktionary
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From French panique terrified from Greek Pānikos of Pan (a source of terror, as in flocks or herds), groundless (used of fear) from Pān Pan Pan
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary
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