phantom Hear it!

phantom Definition

phan·tom (fan′təm)

noun

  1. something that seems to appear to the sight but has no physical existence; apparition; vision; specter
  2. something feared or dreaded
  3. something that exists only in the mind; illusion
  4. a person or thing that is something in appearance but not in fact a phantom of a leader
  5. any mental image or representation the phantoms of things past

Etymology: ME fantome, fantosme < OFr fantosme < L phantasma: see phantasm

adjective

of, like, or constituting a phantom; not really existing; illusory
phantom Synonyms

phantom

n.

apparition, specter, shade, illusion, delusion; see also ghost 1.

phantom Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: Volumatic data was validated to an accuracy of 1.1 % using glass phantoms.
  • chase: At the same time, this concern with academic credibility is just surely chasing phantoms.
  • sting: More REPORT: Phantoms stung by Bracknell Bees BRACKNELL 7, PHANTOMS 5 PHANTOMS were stung by.. .

Adjective modifier

  • other: Other phantoms include a Victorian lady in gray and a 'presence ' in the Castle gatehouse.

Modifies a noun

  • airship: Are phantom airships, UFOs and the like all daydreams trying to become reality?
  • limb: Boxed Material: How to move a phantom limb.
  • menace: May 2001: " Phantom Menace " Wandsworth Guardian.
  • footstep: The house is also reputed to be haunted by phantom footsteps which emerge from the site of a priest hole.
  • hound: You wait ages for a phantom hound, and then two come along!
  • monk: The Abbey of Deer, Buchan The area is haunted by a phantom monk, seen in 1929.

Modifying Another Word

  • largely: By chasing largely phantom rightwing allies, the SWP will quickly alienate the few real members Respect has outside its own ranks.

Noun used with modifier

  • basket: Plays: " Masquerade " Please... More Info Add to basket PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE.
  • tissue: The figure below shows the experimental set-up used for the detection of photothermal responses of gelatin tissue phantoms.

Used with adjective complement

  • face: Scotland's most amusing and ashen faced phantom, Adam Lyal ( deceased ) guides you through the historic setting of St Andrews town.

Preposition: in

  • accident: However, when Torquemada was reduced to a phantom in the infamous travel wire accident, that was more than any family could bare.

Preposition: of

  • opera: Welcome to the " phantom of the opera " gifts page from CartoonStock.. .
  • explorer: They are beset with the phantoms of explorers who preceded them in time.
  • past: The sisters are now reunited and the phantoms of the past have to be faced.
  • living: There are many such cases of what are called phantoms of the living.
  • woman: Another is that it's the phantom of a woman buried in the churchyard, who died with a guilty secret.
phantom Quotes

In the deep windings of the grove no more The hag obscene, and grisly phantom dwell; Nor in the fall of mountain-stream, or roar Of winds, is heard the angry spirit's yell.

—Beattie,James

Science robs men of wisdom and usually converts them into phantom beings loaded up with facts.

—Unamuno, Miguel de

She was a Phantom of delight When first she gleamed upon my sight; A lovelyapparition sent To be a moment's ornament.

—Wordsworth,William