specter

CEFRC1

/ˈspɛktɚ/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A ghost or frightening image; also a possible threat.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A threatening mental image; an unpleasant prospect

Examples

  • A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of communism.

  • A specter is haunting Tatoeba— the specter of Tom.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Any of certain species of dragonfly of the genus Boyeria, family Aeshnidae.

  2. A ghostly apparition, a phantom.

  3. Any of various species of Asian danaid butterflies of the genus Idea, family Nymphalidae.

More examples

In context

  • A specter haunted the cemetery at the old Vasquez manor.

  • A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of communism. All the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this specter: Pope and Tsar, Metternich and Guizot, French Radicals and German police-spies.

  • Already, the specter of higher interest rates was causing the housing market to seize up.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank of unemployment terrified the workers after the factory closure announcement.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle French spectre, from Latin spectrum (“appearance, apparition”). Doublet of spectrum.