Definition of spirit
1
: an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms
2
: a supernatural being or essence: such as
b
: soul 2a
c
: an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible;
specifically
: ghost 2
d
: a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being
3
: temper or disposition of mind or outlook especially when vigorous or animated
- in high spirits
4
: the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person
5 a
: the activating or essential principle influencing a person
- acted in a spirit of helpfulness
b
: an inclination, impulse, or tendency of a specified kind : mood
6 a
: a special attitude or frame of mind
- the money-making spirit was for a time driven back
- —J. A. Froude
b
: the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something
- undertaken in a spirit of fun
7
: a lively or brisk quality in a person or a person's actions
8
: a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature
9
: a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness
- denied the charge with spirit
10 a
: distillate 1: such as
(1)
: the liquid containing ethanol and water that is distilled from an alcoholic liquid or mash
—often used in plural
(2)
: any of various volatile liquids obtained by distillation or cracking (as of petroleum, shale, or wood)
—often used in plural
b
: a usually volatile organic solvent (such as an alcohol, ester, or hydrocarbon)
11 a
: prevailing tone or tendency
- spirit of the age
b
: general intent or real meaning
- spirit of the law
12
: an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance
- spirit of camphor
13
: enthusiastic loyalty
- school spirit
