ghost

The spirit of a dead person, imagined as appearing to people who are alive.

• I saw a ghost.
• People say ghosts haunt the old castle.
• Do you believe in ghosts?

How to use it: the ghost of someone (She claimed to see the ghost of her grandmother.)

Similar words: spirit, apparition

Common phrases: see a ghost, ghost story, ghost of someone

A very faint image, shape, or sign of something.

• A ghost of a smile crossed her face.
• The mirror showed a pale ghost of his reflection.
• Only the ghost of the old sign remained.

How to use it: a ghost of something (There was a ghost of sadness in her voice.)

Similar words: trace, faint image

Common phrases: a ghost of something, faint ghost

The spirit or soul of a person.

• He believed that his ghost would survive his body.
• The prayer calls on the Holy Ghost.
• The old sailor finally gave up the ghost.

How to use it: give up the ghost (The king gave up the ghost before dawn.)

Similar words: spirit, soul

Common phrases: give up the ghost, the Holy Ghost

Someone who writes a book or other text that is published under another person’s name.

• The singer hired a ghost for her memoir.
• His ghost wrote most of the book.
• A skilled ghost can capture another person’s voice.

Similar words: ghostwriter

Common phrases: hire a ghost, ghost for someone

Used before an animal’s name to show that it is white or very pale.

• The ghost slug has a pale body.
• A ghost crab crossed the sand.
• The guide showed us a photograph of a ghost bat.

Common phrases: ghost slug, ghost crab, ghost bat

A shape or piece left behind after the original thing has disappeared.

• A ghost apple hung from the branch.
• Ice preserved the ghost of a fruit that had rotted away.
• The hollow ghosts of apples remained after the thaw.

Similar words: remnant, remains

Common phrases: ghost apple, ghost of something