n. & adj.
--n.
1. a ghost; an apparition; a spectre.
2 a form without substance or reality; a mental illusion.
3 Med. a model of the whole or part of the body used to practise or demonstrate operative or therapeutic methods.
--adj. merely apparent; illusory.
Phrases and idioms:
phantom circuit an arrangement of telegraph or other electrical wires equivalent to an extra circuit. phantom limb a continuing sensation of the presence of a limb which has been amputated. phantom pregnancy Med. the symptoms of pregnancy in a person not actually pregnant.
Etymology: ME f. OF fantosme ult. f. Gk phantasma (as PHANTASM)