menace

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men·ace / ˈmenəs/ • n. a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger: a new initiative aimed at beating the menace of drugs the snakes are a menace to farm animals. ∎  a threatening quality, tone, or atmosphere: he spoke the words with a hint of menace. ∎ often humorous a person or thing that causes trouble or annoyance: his kid sister, that chatty little menace, had become the knockout of the neighborhood.• v. [tr.] (often be menaced) threaten, esp. in a malignant or hostile manner: Africa's elephants are still menaced by poaching | [as adj.] (menacing) a menacing tone of voice. DERIVATIVES: men·ac·er n.men·ac·ing adj.men·ac·ing·ly adv.