spookish

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spook /spuk/   n. [countable]

1. Informal Terms a ghost;
   specter:
   a movie about spooks in a haunted house.
2. Slang Terms [Informal.] a spy:
   the spooks working for the CIA.

v. 

3. Informal Terms to (cause to) become frightened or scared: [~ + object]
   The sudden noise spooked the horse.
   [no object]
   The horse spooked too easily.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spook  (spo̅o̅k), n. 

1. Informal Terms a ghost;
   specter.
2. Slang Terms a ghostwriter.
3. Slang Terms an eccentric person.
4. Slang Terms (disparaging and offensive). a black person.
5. Slang Terms an espionage agent;
   spy.

v.t. 

6. to haunt;
   inhabit or appear in or to as a ghost or specter.
7. Informal Terms to frighten;
   scare.

v.i. 

8. [Informal.] to become frightened or scared:
   The fish spooked at any disturbance in the pool.

• Dutch; cognate with German Spuk
• 1795–1805, American.

spook′er•y, n. 
spook′ish, adj.