Dictionary

poltergeist en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈpoʊl.tɚˌɡaɪst/ (US)
• /ˈpɒl.tə.ɡaɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈpəʊl.təˌɡaɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from German Poltergeist, from poltern (“to rumble”) + Geist (“ghost”), cognates with English boulder and ghost, respectively.

Meanings

1. An unseen ghost which makes noises and causes disruption, especially by causing physical objects to move or fly about.
   • The chapel is haunted by a demonic poltergeist.
   • "Perhaps even a small poltergeist might come your way. Any trifle would be welcome." His bull's bellow of laughter followed them into the lift. 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
   • I risk becoming nothing more than a common poltergeist wallowing in regrets and introspection and other terrible things. 2013, Kazerad, Aggy: Approach, in: Prequel -or- Making a Cat Cry: The Adventure (webcomic), November 22 2013
   • A poltergeist haunts the house by moving objects around, making chain-rattling noises and throwing things.

Forms

Deriveds

poltergeistism · poltergeistic · poltergeistlike · poltergeisty · poltergoose

Translations (34)

eo poltergejsto (disruptive ghost) · it poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · ja ポルターガイスト (disruptive ghost) · de Klopfgeist (disruptive ghost) · pt poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · ko 폴터가이스트 (disruptive ghost) · vo nokamalanan (disruptive ghost) · eo brufantomo (disruptive ghost) · cs poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · ka პოლტერგეისტი (disruptive ghost) · cmn 騷靈 /骚灵 (disruptive ghost) · uk полтерге́йст (disruptive ghost) · mi poketai (disruptive ghost) · bg полтъргайст (disruptive ghost) · nl klopgeest (disruptive ghost) · nl poltergeest (disruptive ghost) · hu kopogó szellem (disruptive ghost) · es poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · vi yêu tinh (disruptive ghost) · no bankeånd (disruptive ghost) · fr poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · fi räyhähenki (disruptive ghost) · no poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · el πόλτεργκαϊστ (disruptive ghost) · lv poltergeists (disruptive ghost) · ar رُوح شَرِيرَة (disruptive ghost) · ru полтерге́йст (disruptive ghost) · fr esprit frappeur (disruptive ghost) · pl poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · sv poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · lt poltergeistas (disruptive ghost) · ja ポルターガイスト現象 (disruptive ghost) · de Poltergeist (disruptive ghost) · fi poltergeist (disruptive ghost)