/ ˈhɒrə(r); NAmE ˈhɔːr-; ˈhɑːr-/ noun
1.
[ U ] a feeling of great shock, fear or disgust :
People watched in horror as the plane crashed to the ground.
With a look of horror, he asked if the doctor thought he had cancer.
The thought of being left alone filled her with horror.
She recoiled in horror at the sight of an enormous spider.
To his horror , he could feel himself starting to cry (= it upset him very much) .
Her eyes were wide with horror.
2.
[ sing. ] horror of sth / of doing sth a great fear or hatred of sth :
a horror of deep water
Most people have a horror of speaking in public.
3.
[ U ] the ~ of sth the very unpleasant nature of sth, especially when it is shocking or frightening :
The full horror of the accident was beginning to become clear.
In his dreams he relives the horror of the attack.
4.
[ C , usually pl. ] a very unpleasant or frightening experience :
the horrors of war
5.
[ U ] a type of book, film / movie, etc. that is designed to frighten people :
In this section you'll find horror and science fiction.
a horror film / movie
—see also horror story
6.
[ C ] ( BrE , informal ) a child who behaves badly :
Her son is a little horror.
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IDIOMS
- horror of horrors
—more at shock noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin horror , from horrere tremble, shudder, (of hair) stand on end.