noun
terror
TEH-ruh
noun
1
Intense fear.
"She screamed in terror when the lights went out."
"The hostages lived in terror for three days."
2
Violence intended to create widespread fear, especially for political ends.
"The country has suffered several acts of terror in recent years."
3
A person or thing that causes great fear, or (informally) a badly behaved person.
"Their toddler is an absolute terror at bedtime."
How to Use Terror
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtreme fear, an act meant to cause that fear, or informally a mischievous person.
Common pairings
reign of terror
act of terror
in terror
a little terror
Word Forms
more terror comparative, terrors plural, most terror superlative
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Etymology
From Old French terreur, from Latin terror, "fright, dread," from terrere, "to frighten."