spook

¹spook

noun \ˈspük\

Definition of SPOOK

1

: ghost, specter

2

: an undercover agent : spy

— spook·ish \ˈspü-kish\ adjective

Examples of SPOOK

1. <Russia recalled its spooks after the collapse of the Soviet Union.>
2. <Halloween is the night when spooks and goblins are said to roam abroad.>

Origin of SPOOK

Dutch; akin to Middle Low German spōk ghost

First Known Use: 1801

Related to SPOOK

Synonyms

agent, asset, emissary, intelligencer, mole, operative, spy, undercover

Related Words

courier; counterspy, double agent, sleeper; infiltrator, informer, stool pigeon; spymaster, superspy

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

Rhymes with SPOOK

cuke, duke, fluke, gook, juke, kook, Luke, nuke, Nuuk, puke, snook, souk, tuque, uke, yeuk, zouk

²spook

verb

Definition of SPOOK

transitive verb

1

: haunt 3

2

: to make frightened or frantic : scare; especially : to startle into violent activity (as stampeding)

intransitive verb

: to become spooked <cattle spooking at shadows>

Examples of SPOOK

1. The noise spooked the cat.
2. The little girl was spooked by scary masks.

First Known Use of SPOOK

1883

Related to SPOOK

Synonyms

affright, alarm (also alarum), fright, horrify, panic, scare, scarify, shock, frighten, startle, terrify, terrorize

Antonyms

reassure

Related Words

appall (also appal), bowl over, dismay, floor, jolt, shake, shake up; amaze, astound, awe; chill, daunt, demoralize, dispirit, emasculate, psych (out), undo, unman, unnerve, unstring; discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distract, distress, disturb, perturb, unsettle, upset, worry

Near Antonyms

assure, cheer, comfort, console, solace, soothe; embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, steel