/ ˈspɪrɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
MIND / FEELINGS / CHARACTER
1.
[ U , C ] the part of a person that includes their mind, feelings and character rather than their body :
the power of the human spirit to overcome difficulties
2.
spirits [ pl. ] a person's feelings or state of mind :
to be in high / low spirits
You must try and keep your spirits up (= stay cheerful) .
My spirits sank at the prospect of starting all over again.
3.
[ C ] (always with an adjective) a person of the type mentioned :
a brave spirit
kindred spirits (= people who like the same things as you)
—see also free spirit
COURAGE / DETERMINATION
4.
[ U ] courage, determination or energy :
Show a little fighting spirit .
Although the team lost, they played with tremendous spirit.
They took away his freedom and broke his spirit.
LOYAL FEELINGS
5.
[ U , sing. ] loyal feelings towards a group, team or society :
There's not much community spirit around here.
—see also team spirit
ATTITUDE
6.
[ sing. ] a state of mind or mood; an attitude :
We approached the situation in the wrong spirit.
'OK, I'll try'. ' That's the spirit (= the right attitude) .'
The party went well because everyone entered into the spirit of things .
—see also party spirit
TYPICAL QUALITY
7.
[ sing. ] the typical or most important quality or mood of sth :
The exhibition captures the spirit of the age / times .
REAL MEANING
8.
[ U ] the real or intended meaning or purpose of sth :
Obey the spirit, not the letter (= the narrow meaning of the words) of the law.
SOUL
9.
[ C ] the soul thought of as separate from the body and believed to live on after death; a ghost :
He is dead, but his spirit lives on.
It was believed that people could be possessed by evil spirits.
—see also the Holy Spirit
IMAGINARY CREATURE
10.
[ C ] ( old-fashioned ) an imaginary creature with magic powers, for example, a fairy or an elf
ALCOHOL
11.
[ C , usually pl. ] ( especially BrE ) a strong alcoholic drink :
I don't drink whisky or brandy or any other spirits.
12.
[ U ] a special type of alcohol used in industry or medicine
—see also methylated spirit , surgical spirit , white spirit
•
IDIOMS
- in spirit
- the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak)
- as / when / if the spirit moves you
—more at fight verb , raise verb
■ verb
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to take sb/sth away in a quick, secret or mysterious way :
After the concert, the band was spirited away before their fans could get near them.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Anglo-Norman French , from Latin spiritus breath, spirit, from spirare breathe.