Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Popular Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words
Definition of panicky - 6 dictionary results

pan⋅ic

1  [pan-ik] noun, adjective, verb, -icked, -ick⋅ing.
Use panicky in a Sentence
–noun
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.
–adjective
5. of the nature of, caused by, or indicating panic: A wave of panic buying shook the stock market.
6. (of fear, terror, etc.) suddenly destroying the self-control and impelling to some frantic action.
7. (initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the god Pan.
–verb (used with object)
8. to affect with panic; terrify and cause to flee or lose self-control.
9. Slang. to keep (an audience or the like) highly amused.
–verb (used without object)
10. to be stricken with panic; become frantic with fear: The herd panicked and stampeded.
Origin:
1595–1605; earlier panique < F < Gk Panikós of Pan; see -ic

Related forms:
pan⋅ick⋅y, adjective

Synonyms:
1. alarm. See terror.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To panicky
pan·ic   (pān'ĭk)   
n.  

  1. A sudden, overpowering terror, often affecting many people at once. See Synonyms at fear.

  2. A sudden widespread alarm concerning finances, often resulting in a rush to sell property: a stock-market panic.

  3. Slang One that is uproariously funny.

adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or resulting from sudden, overwhelming terror: panic flight.

  2. Of or resulting from a financial panic: panic selling of securities.

  3. often Panic Mythology Of or relating to Pan.

tr. & intr.v.   pan·icked, pan·ick·ing, pan·ics
To affect or be affected with panic. See Synonyms at frighten.

[From French panique, terrified, from Greek Pānikos, of Pan (a source of terror, as in flocks or herds), groundless (used of fear), from Pān, Pan; see Pan.]
pan'ick·y adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
panic

  1. n.
    a very funny or exciting person or thing. : Paul is a panic. He tells a joke a minute.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

panic  (1)
"mass terror," 1603, as an adj. (with fear, terror, etc.), from Fr. panique (15c.), from Gk. panikon, lit. "pertaining to Pan," in sense of "panic, fright" short for panikon deima, from neut. of Panikos "of Pan," the god of woods and fields who was the source of mysterious sounds that caused contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds, or in people in lonely spots. As a noun, first recorded 1708. Meaning "widespread apprehension about financial matters" is first recorded 1757. The verb is 1827, from the noun. Panicky is first recorded 1869. Panic button in fig. sense is first recorded 1955, the literal sense apparently is from parachuting.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2panic
Function: verb
Inflected Form: pan·icked /-ikt/; pan·ick·ing
transitive senses
: to affect with panic panic intransitive senses
: to be affected with panic
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

panic pan·ic (pān'ĭk)
n.
A sudden overpowering feeling of terror.

pan'ic v.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see panicky on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way