Dictionary
pan•ic
Pronunciation: (pan'ik), [key]
—n., adj., v., -icked, -ick•ing.
—
n.
1. a sudden overwhelming fear, with or without cause, that produces hysterical or irrational behavior, and that often spreads quickly through a group of persons or animals.
2. an instance, outbreak, or period of such fear.
3. Finance.a sudden widespread fear concerning financial affairs leading to credit contraction and widespread sale of securities at depressed prices in an effort to acquire cash.
4. Slang.someone or something that is considered hilariously funny:
The comedian was an absolute panic.
—
adj.
1. of the nature of, caused by, or indicating panic:
A wave of panic buying shook the stock market.
2. (of fear, terror, etc.) suddenly destroying the self-control and impelling to some frantic action.
3. (
cap.) of or pertaining to the god Pan.
—
v.t.
1. to affect with panic; terrify and cause to flee or lose self-control.
2. Slang.to keep (an audience or the like) highly amused.
—
v.i.
to be stricken with panic; become frantic with fear:
The herd panicked and stampeded. pan•ic
Pronunciation: (pan'ik), [key]—
n.
1. Also called
pan'ic grass". any grass of the genus
Panicum, many species of which bear edible grain.
2. the grain.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
