maniacma‧ni‧ac /ˈmeɪniæk/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
He drove like a maniac to the hospital. Suddenly this maniac ran out into the middle of the road.2religious/sex maniac informal someone who you think is too involved or interested in religion or sex SYN freak: The woman’s a sex maniac if you ask me.3someone who is mentally illhomicidal maniac (=someone who kills people)
WORD ORIGINmaniac
Origin:
1500-1600 Late Latin maniacus, from Greek maniakos, from mania; ➔ MANIAEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He drives like a maniac.
- He didn't smile, or laugh like maniacs are supposed to.
- He was one of those smiling gloomy maniacs.
- I had to calm down, and not lurch around in traffic like a maniac.
- I signed it without speaking, incredibly delighted, grinning like a maniac.
- I was running around the dance floor like a maniac.
- Scientists on the other side were maniacs, to a man.
- The occupant of the stolen car was driving like a maniac.
Longman Language Activatora crazy person
· A lot of people think he's a complete nut, but he's actually quite harmless.· The woman sounds like a real nut.somebody is some kind/type of nut · He started asking me a lot of questions about my personal life. I think the guy's some kind of nut.
someone who behaves in a crazy and often amusing way and who has strange ideas: · Our old maths teacher was a real nutcase -- he used to eat chalk because he said it was good for your bones.a bunch of loonies: · In the 1960s, people thought that vegetarians were a bunch of loonies.
especially spoken someone who behaves in a stupidly dangerous way: · Ken drives like a maniac.· Some lunatic threw a can of lighter fluid on the fire.
British informal someone who has strange ideas or who behaves in a strange and often frightening way: · Sometimes you get these nutters calling you at 3 o'clock in the morning.· Burns can be a nutter - especially when he's had a few drinks.complete nutter: · He's a complete nutter. He's got no sense whatsoever.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He drove like a maniac to the hospital.
1informal someone who behaves in a stupid or dangerous way SYN lunatic: He drove like a maniac to the hospital. (=someone who kills people)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Even if he is murdered by a homicidal maniac he has chosen to be at a certain place at a certain time.· Kerns is Sara Rayner, whose orderly little life comes apart when she is attacked and raped by a homicidal maniac.· But none as far as I know is a homicidal maniac.· Could be a concerned taxpayer, a homicidal maniac, some trial lawyer.
He drove like a maniac to the hospital. Suddenly this maniac ran out into the middle of the road.2religious/sex maniac informal someone who you think is too involved or interested in religion or sex SYN freak: The woman’s a sex maniac if you ask me.3someone who is mentally illhomicidal maniac (=someone who kills people)