Link Centre Dictionary

amok

UK/əˈmɒk/ US/əˈmʌk/ uncommon
adverb (2) adjective (1)

adverb

1.

wildly; without self-control

  • “when the restaurant caught fire the patrons ran amuck, blocking the exit”
Synonyms
2.

in a murderous frenzy

  • “rioters running amuck and throwing sticks and bottles and stones”
Synonyms

adjective

1.

in a murderous frenzy as if possessed by a demon

  • “the soldier was completely amuck”
  • “berserk with grief”
  • “a berserk worker smashing windows”
Synonyms
Similar

Origin

Borrowed from Portuguese amouco, from Malay amuk (“to go on a killing spree”). The term first appeared in English around the 16th century, associated with the people of Malaysia and Java, first described in the 1516 text The Book of Duarte Barbosa, which was translated to English by Henry E. J. Stanley.

Phrases

  • run amok

Related words

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.