craze

American  

[kreyz] / kreɪz /

verb (used with object)

crazed, crazing

1. to derange or impair the mind of; make insane.

   He was crazed by jealousy.

2. to make small cracks on the surface of (a ceramic glaze, paint, or the like); crackle.

3. British Dialect. to crack.

4. Archaic. to weaken; impair.

   to craze one's health.

5. Obsolete. to break; shatter.

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verb (used without object)

crazed, crazing

1. to become insane; go mad.

2. to become minutely cracked, as a ceramic glaze; crackle.

3. Metallurgy.

   1. (of a case-hardened object) to develop reticulated surface markings; worm.

   2. (of an ingot) to develop an alligator skin as a result of being teemed into an old and worn mold.

4. Archaic. to fall to pieces; break.

noun

1. a popular or widespread fad, fashion, etc.; mania.

   the newest dance craze.

   Synonyms:

   mode, vogue

2. insanity; an insane condition.

3. a minute crack or pattern of cracks in the glaze of a ceramic object.

4. Obsolete. flaw; defect.

craze British  

/ kreɪz /

noun

1. a short-lived current fashion

2. a wild or exaggerated enthusiasm

   a craze for chestnuts

3. mental disturbance; insanity

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verb

1. to make or become mad

2. ceramics metallurgy to develop or cause to develop a fine network of cracks

3. archaic (tr) to break

4. archaic (tr) to weaken

Etymology

Origin of craze

1325–75; Middle English crasen to crush < Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Norwegian krasa to shatter, crush

Related Words

• enthusiasm
• fever
• furor
• mania
• passion
• rage
• trend