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

lunatic

noun
 
/ˈluːnətɪk/
 
/ˈluːnətɪk/
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  1. a person who does crazy things that are often dangerous synonym maniac
    • This lunatic in a white van pulled out right in front of me!
    Topics Dangerc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • complete
    • raving
    • crazed
    • …
    lunatic + noun
    • asylum
    See full entry
  2. (old-fashioned, offensive) a person who has a severe mental illness The use of lunatic with this meaning is now offensive.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • complete
    • raving
    • crazed
    • …
    lunatic + noun
    • asylum
    See full entry
    3. Word OriginOriginally from the Latin lunaticus (luna = moon), because people believed that the changes in the moon made people go mad temporarily.
See lunatic in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: lunatic

Nearby words

halfway
adverb
 
 
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