# craze

/ˈkɹeɪz/ (US) · /kɹˈeɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/craze
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a fad or fashion

noun · CEFR B2

something that is extremely popular for a short time.

For teachers: a temporary fashion, notion, or enthusiasm followed by a large number of people.

- The new fitness craze has everyone buying expensive jumping shoes this summer.
- Social media platforms often accelerate the lifecycle of a fashion craze, taking it from niche interest to global ubiquity in a matter of weeks.

### 2. cracks in pottery

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a tiny crack in the surface of a bowl or plate.

For teachers: a fine crack in the glaze or enamel of pottery or porcelain, often caused by heat stress.

- If you look closely at the antique vase, you can see a tiny craze in the glaze.
- Collectors often distinguish between intentional decorative crackle and a natural craze resulting from the uneven cooling of the kiln.

### 3. to develop cracks

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to get small cracks on the surface of something.

For teachers: to produce or develop a network of fine cracks on a surface, such as glaze or paint.

- The old painting started to craze after years of hanging in the sun.
- Exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations caused the protective coating on the exterior panels to craze and eventually flake off.

### 4. to make someone insane

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to make someone lose their mind or become very confused.

For teachers: to derange the intellect or render someone insane.

- The constant noise from the construction site was enough to craze the residents.
- In the gothic novel, the protagonist is slowly crazed by the isolation of the desolate moorland estate.

## Examples

- The new dance craze is spreading quickly on social media.
- In the late nineties, there was a massive craze for collecting digital pets that required constant attention.
- Sociologists often study how a consumer craze can bypass traditional marketing channels and gain momentum through peer-to-peer imitation alone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.