vampire

[vam-pahy^uhr]

noun

1. a preternatural being, commonly believed to be a reanimated corpse, that is said to suck the blood of sleeping persons at night.

2. (in Eastern European folklore) a corpse, animated by an undeparted soul or demon, that periodically leaves the grave and disturbs the living, until it is exhumed and impaled or burned.

3. a person who preys ruthlessly upon others; extortionist.

4. a woman who unscrupulously exploits, ruins, or degrades the men she seduces.

5. an actress noted for her roles as an unscrupulous seductress.

   the vampires of the silent movies.

vampire

/ ˈvæmpaɪə, væmˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. (in European folklore) a corpse that rises nightly from its grave to drink the blood of the living

2. See vampire bat

3. a person who preys mercilessly upon others, such as a blackmailer

4. See vamp 1

5. theatre a trapdoor on a stage

Other Word Forms

• vampiric adjective
• vampirish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vampire¹

First recorded in 1725–35; from French or directly from German Vampir, from Serbo-Croatian vàmpīr, alteration of earlier upir (by confusion with doublets such as vȁzdūh, ȕzdūh “air” (from Slavic vŭ- ), and with intrusive nasal, as in dùbrava, dumbrȁva “grove”); akin to Czech upír, Polish upiór, Old Russian upyrĭ, upirĭ ( Russian upýrʾ ), from unattested Slavic u-pirĭ or ǫ-pirĭ, probably a compound noun formed with unattested root per- “fly, rush” (literal meaning variously interpreted)

Word History and Origins

Origin of vampire¹

C18: from French, from German Vampir, from Magyar; perhaps related to Turkish uber witch, Russian upyr vampire

Example Sentences

The results mirrored a 2020 study of vampire bats showing that newcomers also test the waters, slowly progressing from grooming relationships to more substantial food-sharing partnerships with trusted companions.

Read more on Science Daily

When I think of a vampire, I think of a long cape and a gigantic bat hanging from the branches … but this is somehow even scarier.

Read more on Literature

It was a great idea to start with the vampires, a Wes Craven-style of scaring the s— out of the audience and then building up the story.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The seductive vampire is, by definition, a source of irresistible fascination,” Cameron said.

Read more on Salon

Fans can expect to enjoy plenty of tricks and treats from the vampires, zombies and skeletons.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• demon 
• devil 
• phantom 
• shadow 
• soul 
• specter 
• vision