TERROR

[noun] - (violent action which causes) extreme fearThey fled from the city in terror. [U]There was sheer/abject terror in her eyes when he came back into the room. [U]Lots of people have a terror of spiders/drowning. [U]What he said struck terror in my heart (= made me very frightened). [U]The separatists started a campaign of terror (= violent action causing fear) to get independence. [U]Each change of regime has been accompanied by bloodshed, culminating in the permanent (reign of) terror (= violent action causing fear) of the present government. [U]Heights have/hold no terrors for me (= do not frighten me). [C]The terrors (= frightening experiences) of their months in captivity left their mark. [C]A terror is also someone, esp. a child, who behaves badly and is difficult to control.My brother is a real little terror.If you are/go/live in terror of your life, you are frightened that you will be killed.If someone or something is the terror of people, it causes them extreme fear.The tiger was the terror of the villagers for several months.(informal) That boy is the terror of (= causes trouble in) the neighbourhood.Terror-stricken/Terror-struck means extremely frightened.They were terror-stricken when they heard someone moving around downstairs in their house at night.