ghost

ghost¹ [gəust US goust] n

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1¦(spirit)¦

2¦(memory/effect)¦

3 the ghost of a smile/sound etc

4¦(television/computer)¦

5 give up the ghost

6 (not) a ghost of a chance

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[: Old English; Origin: gast]

1.) ¦(SPIRIT)¦

the spirit of a dead person that some people think they can feel or see in a place

ghost of

▪ the ghost of Old Tom Morris

▪ They say the young girl's ghost still haunts (=often appears in) the house.

▪ He looked as if he'd seen a ghost (=he looked very frightened) .

→↑Holy Ghost

2.) ¦(MEMORY/EFFECT)¦

the memory or effect of someone or something bad that lived, existed, or happened in the past

ghost of

▪ The ghost of Stalinism still affects life in Russia today.

3.) the ghost of a smile/sound etc

a smile etc that is so slight you are not sure it happened

▪ The ghost of a smile flitted across her sad features.

4.) ¦(TELEVISION/COMPUTER)¦

a second image that is not clear on a television or computer screen

5.) give up the ghost

a) if a machine gives up the ghost, it does not work any more and cannot be repaired - used humorously

▪ Unfortunately, my car's just given up the ghost.

b) to die

6.) (not) a ghost of a chance

not even a slight chance of doing something, or of something happening

▪ They don't stand a ghost of a chance of winning.

ghost ²

ghost² v [T]

to write something as a ↑ghost writer