spook

Pronunciation

• enPR: spo͞ok, IPA ^(key): /spuːk/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

Singular spook

Plural spooks

1. (informal) A spook is a ghost or phantom.

   The building was haunted by a couple of spooks.

2. (informal) A spook is a scare or fright.

   The big spider gave me a spook.

3. (slang) A spook is a spy.
4. (slang) (rare) (vulgar) A spook is a black person.

Verb

Plain form spook

Third-person singular spooks

Past tense spooked

Past participle spooked

Present participle spooking

1. (transitive) If you spook someone, you frighten or make someone nervous.

   The hunters were spooked when the black cat crossed their path. The movement in the bushes spooked the deer and they ran.