panic

n. [ Gr. to~ paniko`n (with or without dei^ma fear): cf. F. panique. See Panic, a. ] 1. A sudden, overpowering fright; esp., a sudden and groundless fright; terror inspired by a trifling cause or a misapprehension of danger; as, the troops were seized with a panic; they fled in a panic. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. By extension: A sudden widespread fright or apprehension concerning financial affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. panicum. ] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Panicum; panic grass; also, the edible grain of some species of panic grass. [ 1913 Webster ]

Panic grass (Bot.), any grass of the genus Panicum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Panic, a. [ Obs. ] Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Same as panic-stricken; as, the travellers became panicky as the snow deepened.
Syn. -- panic-stricken, panic-struck, petrified, terrified, frightened. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. panicula a tuft on plants, dim. of panus the thread wound upon the bobbin in a shuttle; cf. Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;; prob. akin to E. pane: cf. F. panicule. See 2d Pane. ] (Bot.) A pyramidal form of inflorescence, in which the cluster is loosely branched below and gradually simpler toward the end. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Furnished with panicles; arranged in, or like, panicles; paniculate. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , a. Struck with a panic, or sudden fear; thrown into a state of intense fear; as, trying to keep back the panic-stricken crowd. Burke.
Syn. -- panicky, petrified, terrified, frightened. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ See Panicle. ] (Bot) Same as Panicled. [ 1913 Webster ]