informal <非正式>
1
- a ghost鬼。
1.1
- S. African a thing that people are frightened of, especially without justification (used in political contexts)〈南非〉（尤指无端）让人恐惧的东西（作政治用语）：
the far-right spook will stay a spook for a long time yet.
极右恐怖势力在很长一段时间内会让人感到恐怖。
2
- chiefly N. Amer. a spy〈主北美〉间谍：
a CIA spook.
一个中央情报局的间谍。
3
- S. African an armoured vehicle used to detect mines〈南非〉探雷装甲车。
4
- offensive, dated, chiefly US a black person〈冒犯, 旧, 主美〉黑鬼。
with obj.
1
- frighten; unnerve惊吓; 恐吓：
they spooked a couple of grizzly bears.
他们惊吓了几只灰熊。
1.1
- no obj.(especially of an animal) take fright suddenly（尤指动物）突然受惊：
he'll spook if we make any noise.
如果我们弄出任何响声, 他就会受惊。
2
- S. African clear (an area) of mines〈南非〉为（区域）扫雷：
a road that hasn't been spooked.
还没有扫过雷的公路。
词源
early 19th cent.: from Dutch, of unknown origin.