amok
[ uh-muhk, uh-mok ]
/ əˈmʌk, əˈmɒk /
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noun
(among members of certain Southeast Asian cultures) a psychic disturbance characterized by depression followed by a manic urge to murder.
adjective
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Idioms for amok
run / go amok. amuck (def. 3).
Also amuck.
Origin of amok
First recorded in 1865–70, amok is from the Malay word amuk
Words nearby amok
amoebiasis, amoebic, amoebic dysentery, amoebocyte, amoeboid, amok, amokura, amole, Amon, among, amongst
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for amok
amok
amuck (əˈmʌk)
/ (əˈmʌk, əˈmɒk) /
noun
a state of murderous frenzy, originally observed among Malays
adverb
run amok to run about with or as if with a frenzied desire to kill
Word Origin for amok
C17: from Malay amoq furious assault
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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