havoc
[ hav-uhk ]
/ ˈhæv ək /
noun
great destruction or devastation; ruinous damage.
verb (used with object), hav·ocked, hav·ock·ing.
to work havoc upon; devastate.
verb (used without object), hav·ocked, hav·ock·ing.
to work havoc: The fire havocked throughout the house.
Idioms for havoc
- to create confusion or disorder in: The wind played havoc with the papers on the desk.
- to destroy; ruin: The bad weather played havoc with our vacation plans.
cry havoc,
to warn of danger or disaster.
play havoc with,
Origin of havoc
1400–50; late Middle English
havok < Anglo-French (in phrase
crier havok to cry havoc, i.e., utter the command
havoc! as signal for pillaging), Middle French
havot in same sense < Germanic
OTHER WORDS FROM havoc
hav·ock·er, nounWords nearby havoc
Example sentences from the Web for havoc
British Dictionary definitions for havoc
havoc
/ (ˈhævək) /
noun
destruction; devastation; ruin
informal
confusion; chaos
cry havoc archaic
to give the signal for pillage and destruction
play havoc (often foll by with)
to cause a great deal of damage, distress, or confusion (to)
verb -ocs, -ocking or -ocked
(tr) archaic
to lay waste
Word Origin for havoc
C15: from Old French
havot pillage, probably of Germanic origin
Idioms and Phrases with havoc
havoc
see cry havoc; play havoc.