Search

[hahy-per] /ˈhaɪ pər/ Informal.

adjective
1.
overexcited; overstimulated; keyed up.
2.
seriously or obsessively concerned; fanatical; rabid:
She’s hyper about noise pollution.
3.
.
noun
4.
a person who is hyper.
[hahy-per] /ˈhaɪ pər/
noun, Informal.
1.
a person who promotes or publicizes events, people, etc., especially one who uses flamboyant or questionable methods; promoter; publicist.
1.
a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “over,” usually implying excess or exaggeration (hyperbole); on this model used, especially as opposed to , in the formation of compound words (hyperthyroid).
/ˈhaɪpə/
adjective
1.
(informal) overactive; overexcited
prefix
1.
above, over, or in excess: hypercritical
2.
(in medicine) denoting an abnormal excess: hyperacidity
3.
indicating that a chemical compound contains a greater than usual amount of an element: hyperoxide
adj.

1942 as a colloquial shortening of hyperactive.

word-forming element meaning “over, above, beyond, exceedingly, to excess,” from Greek hyper (prep. and adv.) “over, beyond, overmuch, above measure,” from PIE super- “over” (see super-).

hyper- pref.

hyper-
A prefix that means “excessive” or “excessively,” especially in medical terms like hypertension and hyperthyroidism.

n,n phr

A publicist; promoter; advertiser; flack

[1960+; fr hype2]

adjective

Related Terms

throw a fit

[fr Greek hyper, ”super,” and in the first sense probably fr medical terms like hyperactive, hyperkinetic, hyperthyroid, etc; in some sources this term is associated with hipped and hippish, fr hypochondriac, ”melancholic,” first found in the early 18th century]