vampire
/ˈvæm.paɪ.ə(ɹ)/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.03 in modern English
Meaning
noun
A mythological creature (usually humanoid and undead) said to feed on the blood or life energy of the living.
noun
A person with habits traditionally ascribed to (literal) vampires, such as heliophobia, being a night owl, having pale skin, and so on.
Colloquial; Humorous
noun
A person with the medical condition porphyria cutanea tarda, colloquially known as vampirism, with effects such as photosensitivity and brownish-red stained teeth.
Colloquial; Offensive
noun
noun
A medical technician who works with patients' blood; especially, a phlebotomist.
American usage; Slang
noun
Synonym of anti-ship missile (ASM), particularly an incoming hostile one.
American usage; Slang
Example Sentences
- "Bram Stoker's novel Dracula built on centuries-old stories of vampires and also encouraged new growth of the mythology."
- "[I]n the Village of Medreyga in Hungary, certain dead Bodies (call'd there Vampyres) had kill'd several Persons by sucking out all their Blood: That Arnold Paul, an Heyduke, having kill'd four Persons after he was dead, his Body was taken up 40 Days after, which bled at the Nose, Mouth and Ears: That, according to Custom, they drove a Stake thro' his Heart, at which he gave horrid Groan, and lost a great deal of Blood. And that all such as have been tormented or kill'd by Vampyres, become Vampyres when they are dead."
- "The universal belief is, that a person sucked by a vampyre becomes a vampyre himself, and sucks in his turn."
- "From my laboratory in the Castle east To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast The ghouls all came from their humble abodes To get a jolt from my electrodes They did the Mash They did the Monster Mash."
- "I'm a vampire, baby, sucking blood from the earth / Well, I'm a vampire, baby, sell you twenty barrels worth"
- "Near-synonyms: heliophobe, goth"
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: vampire, Vampir, vàmpīr//ва̀мпӣр, *ǫpyrь, *ōpur
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈvæm.paɪ.ə(ɹ)/
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Military.