/'terə(r); `tɛrɚ/
n
1 (a) [U] extreme fear 恐怖; 惊骇
*run away in terror 惊慌地跑开
* scream with terror 吓得尖叫起来
* be in terror of one's life, ie afraid of being killed 为自己的生命安全担惊受怕
* strike terror into (ie terrify) sb 使某人胆战心惊.
(b) [C] instance of this 恐怖的事
*have a terror of heights 害怕登高
* The terrors of the night were past. 夜间的那些恐怖事都已成过去.
2 [C] terrifying person or thing 可怕的人或事物
*hooligans who are a terror to/the terror of the entire town 使全城人都恐惧的流氓
* Death holds no terrors for (ie does not frighten) me. 死神吓不倒我.
3 [C] (infml 口) formidable or troublesome person or thing 令人惧怕或讨厌的人或事物
*My aunt can be a bit of a terror. 我姑姑有时候还真有点讨人厌.
* That puppy is an absolute terror, ie a great nuisance. 那只小狗讨厌极了.
4 (idm 习语) a holy terror => holy.

n

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1【fear】
2【frightening situation】
3【violent action】
4【person】

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[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: terreur, from Latin terror, from terrere; TERRIBLE]
【FEAR】[U]
a feeling of extreme fear
in terror
　People fled in terror as fire tore through the building.
　Shots rang out, and I screamed in terror .
　We lived in terror of our father when he was drinking.
　There was a look of sheer terror (=complete terror) on his face.
strike terror into sb/sb's heart
　The sound of enemy planes struck terror into our hearts.
【FRIGHTENING SITUATION】[C]
an event or situation that makes people feel extremely frightened, especially because they think they may die
terror of
　the terrors of war
　Death holds no terrors for (=does not frighten) me.
【VIOLENT ACTION】[U]
violent action for political purposes
= terrorism
　The resistance movement started a campaign of terror .
　The Red Army Faction tried to undermine the state by terror tactics .
　Pol Pot's reign of terror in Cambodia
【PERSON】[C]informal
a child who is difficult to control
　That Johnson kid's a real little terror!
→reign of terroratreign¹ (4)
→a holy terroratholy