mania

[ mey-nee-uh, meyn-yuh ]
/ ˈmeɪ ni ə, ˈmeɪn yə /

noun

excessive excitement or enthusiasm; craze: The country has a mania for soccer.
Psychiatry. manic disorder.

Origin of mania

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek manía madness; akin to maenad, mind

OTHER WORDS FROM mania

hy·per·ma·ni·a, noun sub·ma·ni·a, noun

Definition for mania (2 of 3)

Mania
[ mey-nee-uh, meyn-yuh ]
/ ˈmeɪ ni ə, ˈmeɪn yə /

noun

an ancient Roman goddess of the dead.

Definition for mania (3 of 3)

-mania

a combining form of mania (megalomania); extended to mean “enthusiasm, often of an extreme and transient nature,” for that specified by the initial element (bibliomania).

Example sentences from the Web for mania

British Dictionary definitions for mania (1 of 2)

mania
/ (ˈmeɪnɪə) /

noun

a mental disorder characterized by great excitement and occasionally violent behaviour See also manic-depressive
an obsessional enthusiasm or partiality a mania for mushrooms

Word Origin for mania

C14: via Late Latin from Greek: madness

British Dictionary definitions for mania (2 of 2)

-mania

n combining form

indicating extreme desire or pleasure of a specified kind or an abnormal excitement aroused by something kleptomania; nymphomania; pyromania

Derived forms of -mania

-maniac, adj combining form, n combining form

Word Origin for -mania

from mania

Medical definitions for mania (1 of 2)

mania
[ mānē-ə, mānyə ]

n.

A manifestation of bipolar disorder characterized by profuse and rapidly changing ideas, exaggerated gaiety, and excessive physical activity.

Medical definitions for mania (2 of 2)

-mania

suff.

An abnormal compulsion or an extreme love for:pyromania.

Cultural definitions for mania

mania
[ (may-nee-uh) ]

Violent, abnormal, or impulsive behavior. In psychological terms, mania is wild activity associated with manic depression.

notes for mania

A “mania” in popular terms is an intense enthusiasm or craze.