pol‧ter‧geist /ˈpɒltəɡaɪst $ ˈpoʊltər-/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: poltern 'to knock' + geist 'spirit']
a ghost that makes objects move around and causes strange noises

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ghost the spirit of a dead person that some people think they can feel or see in a place:
His ghost is believed to haunt the house.
spirit a creature without a physical body, such as an angel or ghost:
evil spirits
the spirit world
apparition an image of a dead person that someone sees suddenly for a short time:
He claimed to have seen an apparition in the church.
poltergeist a ghost that people cannot see, which throws things or moves things around:
The house was haunted by a poltergeist that makes things move around all by themselves, sometimes quite big things like beds or wardrobes.
spook informal a ghost:
I’m not scared of spooks.
phantom literary a frightening and unclear image of a dead person:
They had seen phantoms gliding on the surface of the water.
spectre British English, specter American English literary a ghost, especially a frightening one:
She had looked like a spectre.
The following night, the spectre appeared again.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲