menace noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of menace noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

menace

noun
 
/ˈmenəs/
 
/ˈmenəs/
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  1. [countable, usually singular] menace (to somebody/something) a person or thing that causes, or may cause, serious damage, harm or danger synonym threat
    • a new initiative aimed at beating the menace of illegal drugs
    • The communists remain a potential menace to the stability of the government.
    Extra Examples
    • He's a menace to society.
    • Local traders are struggling to combat the menace of armed robbery.
    • The protesters remain a potential menace to the stability of the government.
    • the menace posed by car fumes
    Topics Dangerc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • growing
    • increasing
    • great
    verb + menace
    • pose
    • combat
    • counter
    preposition
    • menace to
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable] an atmosphere that makes you feel threatened or frightened
    • a sense/an air/a hint of menace in his voice
    Extra Examples
    • The scar down his face added to his air of menace.
    • Her eyes were glittering with menace.
    Topics Feelingsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • hidden
    • quiet
    • silent
    preposition
    • with menace
    phrases
    • an air of menace
    See full entry
  3. [countable, usually singular] (informal) a person or thing that is annoying or causes trouble
    • They have become a public menace.
    synonym nuisanceTopics Personal qualitiesc1
  4. menaces
    [plural] (British English, law) threats that somebody will cause harm if they do not get what they are asking for
    • with menaces to demand money with menaces
  5. Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from late Latin minacia, from Latin minax, minac- ‘threatening’, from minae ‘threats’.
See menace in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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