Spook
/spuk/
nounverbB2
Definition
As a noun, "spook" means a ghost or a spirit, something people imagine as a scary or mysterious being. As a verb, it means to frighten or startle someone suddenly, often causing them to feel nervous or scared quickly.
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See It in Action
Noun: A ghost or spirit
- •The old house is said to be full of spooks.
- •Some children believe spooks live in the attic.
- •The movie had many spooks that made people scream.
Verb: To frighten or startle suddenly
- •The loud noise spooked the horse, and it ran away.
- •She was spooked by the sudden shadow in the hallway.
- •Don’t spook the cat or it might hide for hours.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "spook" like "ghost" (A2 word) but a little more casual and sometimes playful when talking about scary things.
- ✓Picture a shadow suddenly moving in a dark room, making your heart jump with surprise.
- ✓It's the feeling when you hear a strange noise at night and get a quick, sharp fear.
- ✓Sounds like "spook" → imagine a quick "spoo!" sound that makes you jump or feel scared suddenly.
- ✓In stories or movies, a spook is a ghost that surprises people, like in Halloween tales.
- ✓NOT like "fear" (which is a feeling), "spook" as a verb is the action that causes sudden fear.
- ✓NOT like "frighten" (more formal), "spook" is more informal and often used for quick, small scares.
- ✓NOT like "ghost" (noun only), "spook" can also be a verb meaning to scare someone.
Try Other Words
- •Frighten: to make someone afraid (Use when the fear is stronger or more serious)
- •Scare: to cause fear or surprise (Use for general or simple fear situations)
- •Ghost: a spirit of a dead person (Use when talking about spirits, not actions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, simple root "spook")
- •Etymology: From Middle English "spok" or "spook," related to Dutch "spook" meaning ghost or spirit
- •Historical development: Originally meant ghost or spirit, later also used as a verb to mean causing sudden fear
- •Modern usage: Used both as a noun for ghost and a verb for causing sudden fright, often informal and common in spoken English
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things or situations usually spook you quickly? Why do you think that is?
•Can something spook you even if it is not dangerous? How does your mind create that fear?
Fill in the blanks
1.The sudden noise ___ the horse, making it run away quickly.
2.People say the old castle is full of ___ that appear at night.
3.When you ___ someone, you cause them to feel scared or nervous suddenly.
4.Unlike a strong fear, a spook is usually a ___ and quick feeling.
5.The cat was ___ by the loud bang and hid under the sofa.
6.You should not ___ the dog because it might bite if scared.
7.In Halloween stories, spooks often appear to ___ the characters for fun.