acrophobia
/ˌakrəˈfəʊbɪə
/noun [mass noun]
Extreme or irrational fear of heights.Carla develops acrophobia (fear of heights), which makes it difficult for her to take elevators, park her car, or do flagpole sitting....
- For example, a person may have several spirits of acrophobia (fear of heights).
- Less common is acrophobia, ‘fear of heights‘; this derives from the Greek ‘akros’ for a thing that is topmost, or at the tip or extremity of something.
Derivatives
acrophobic
- Mark is acrophobic and allergic to nuts as well as mushrooms.
- I'm pathologically acrophobic, so it was always extremely difficult for me.
- A high school reunion is pretty much about nothing but memory, so it's like an acrophobic going skydiving.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek akron 'summit' + -phobia.
- turnip
- turnip greens
- turnip tops
- turnipy
- turnkey
- turn King's (or Queen's or state's) evidence
- turn off
- turn-off point
- turn of mind
- turn of phrase
- turn of speed
- turn on
- turn one's back on
- turn one's hand to
- turn one's hand to something
- turn one's head
- turn one's nose up at
- turn on one's heel
- turn on the charm
- turn (or go) pink
- turn (or put) back the clock
- turn (or tighten) the screw (or screws)
- turn out
- turnout
- turn over