terror

Universal Words noun 1 [U,sing.] a feeling of extreme fear: a feeling of sheer / pure terror * Her eyes were wild with terror. * People fled from the explosion in terror. * She lives in terror of (= is constantly afraid of) losing her job. * Some women have a terror of losing control in the birth process. * (literary) The very name of the enemy struck terror into their hearts. 2 [C] a person, situation or thing that makes you very afraid: These street gangs have become the terror of the neighbourhood. * Death holds no terrors for (= does not frighten or worry) me. * The terrors of the night were past. 3 [U] violent action or the threat of violent action that is intended to cause fear, usually for political purposes SYNTERRORISM: a campaign of terror * terror tactics seealsoREIGNOFTERROR 4 [C] (informal) a person (usually a child) or an animal that causes you trouble or is difficult to control: Their kids are real little terrors.