English Dictionary

Definition of “ghost”

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ghost (ɡəʊstPronunciation for ghost) 

Definitions

noun

  1. the disembodied spirit of a dead person, supposed to haunt the living as a pale or shadowy vision; phantom spectral
  2. a haunting memory  ⇒ the ghost of his former life rose up before him 
  3. a faint trace or possibility of something; glimmer  ⇒ a ghost of a smile 
  4. the spirit; soul (archaic, except in the phrase the Holy Ghost)
  5. physics 
    1. a faint secondary image produced by an optical system
    2. a similar image on a television screen, formed by reflection of the transmitting waves or by a defect in the receiver
  6. See ghost word
  7. ghost editionan entry recorded in a bibliography of which no actual proof exists
  8. Another name for ghostwriter See ghostwrite
  9. (modifier) falsely recorded as doing a particular job or fulfilling a particular function in order that some benefit, esp money, may be obtained  ⇒ a ghost worker 
  10. See give up the ghost

verb

  1. See ghostwrite
  2. (tr) to haunt
  3. (intr) to move effortlessly and smoothly, esp unnoticed  ⇒ he ghosted into the penalty area 

Alternative Forms

ˈghostˌlike adjective

Word Origin

Old English gāst;  related to Old Frisian jēst,  Old High German geist  spirit, Sanskrit hēda fury, anger

Quotations

  • "Ghost stories appeal to our craving for immortality. If you can be afraid of a ghost, then you have to believe that a ghost may exist. And if a ghost exists then oblivion might not be the end" Stanley Kubrick
  • "Even the living were only ghosts in the making" Pat Barker

Translations

  • British English: ghost Pronunciation for ghost A ghost is the spirit of a dead person that someone believes they can see or feel.Do you believe in ghosts?ɡəʊst NOUN Do you believe in ghosts?
  • Spanish: fantasma Pronunciation for fantasma nm
  • French: fantôme Pronunciation for fantôme nm
  • German: Geist Pronunciation for Geist nm
  • Chinese: 鬼Pronunciation for 鬼 n
  • Arabic: شَبَحPronunciation for شَبَح n
  • Portuguese: fantasmaPronunciation for fantasma nm
  • Russian: привидениеPronunciation for привидение nnt
  • Croatian: duhPronunciation for duh nm
  • Czech: duchPronunciation for duch nm
  • Danish: spøgelsePronunciation for spøgelse nnt
  • Dutch: spookPronunciation for spook nnt
  • Finnish: kummitusPronunciation for kummitus n
  • Greek: φάντασμαPronunciation for φάντασμα nnt
  • Italian: fantasmaPronunciation for fantasma nm
  • Japanese: 幽霊Pronunciation for 幽霊 n
  • Korean: 유령Pronunciation for 유령 n
  • Norwegian: spøkelsePronunciation for spøkelse nnt
  • Polish: duchPronunciation for duch nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: fantasmaPronunciation for fantasma nm
  • European Spanish: fantasma Pronunciation for fantasma nm
  • Swedish: spökePronunciation for spöke nnt
  • Thai: ผีPronunciation for ผี n
  • Turkish: hayaletPronunciation for hayalet n
  • Vietnamese: maPronunciation for ma n

Usage examples

  • Luke remembers suggesting to Julie that she was actually being abducted by aliens or interfered with by some sort of sex ghost.
    Scarlett Thomas, GOING OUT (2002)
  • Most ghost hunters would dearly love the ability to see in the dark.
    New Scientist (1998)
  • The Iraqi capital had taken on the air of a ghost town on the eve of the deadline.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • Spike out to banish the ghost of 1994 Ferguson desperate for'final day ' joy By Steven Beacom sbeacom@belfasttelegraph.
    Belfast Telegraph (2004)
  • Among a ghost town of tin sheds, statuesque lumps of salt rear out of the escarpment.
    De Jong, Nicholas (ed), Bedside Guardian 38 (1989)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'G'

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