spook

From Wiktionary

Pronunciation[change]

Noun[change]

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[change]

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.