spirit

1 /'spIrit/ noun

1 INNER PART (singular, uncountable) an inner part of someone that includes their thoughts and feelings, and is thought of as making them what they are: His spirit was untameable. | strong in spirit | independent/proud/free etc spirit (=a person with a particular type of character): a toddler already showing an independent spirit

2 SOUL (C) the part of someone that is believed to continue to live after they have died: Although Laurie is dead, I can feel his spirit with me.

—compare soul (1)

3 DEAD PERSON (C) a dead person who is believed to have returned to this world and has strange or magical powers; ghost 1 (1): Some people believe that evil spirits can be removed by exorcism.

4 HAPPY/SAD spirits (plural) the way someone feels at a particular time, for example if they are cheerful or sad: be in good/low spirits (=be happy or sad) | be in high spirits (=be excited): We started our journey in high spirits. | keep sb's spirits up (=make sure someone does not become less cheerful) | raise/lift sb's spirits (=make someone feel happier and more hopeful): long, hot summer days that lift the spirits | sb's spirits lift/sink (=become more or less cheerful): My spirits sank when I saw the mess they'd left.

5 in spirit you say you will be somewhere in spirit or with someone in spirit, when you cannot be with them but are thinking about them: I can't come to your wedding but I'll be there in spirit.

6 DRINK (countable usually plural)

a) especially BrE a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky or brandy

b) BrE liquid such as alcohol, used for cleaning

7 get into the spirit/enter into the spirit BrE to start to feel as happy, excited etc as the people around you: Judith couldn't really enter into the spirit of the occasion.

8 ATTITUDE (singular) the attitude that you have towards something: You've got to approach this meeting in the right spirit. | a true spirit of friendship

9 DETERMINATION (U) approving courage, energy, and determination: Our team played with great spirit. | fighting spirit (=brave determination) | break sb's spirit (=make someone lose their courage and determination): slaves whose spirits had been broken

10 that's the spirit spoken used to express approval of someone's behaviour or attitude

11 team/community/public etc spirit a strong feeling of belonging to a particular group and wanting to help them

12 the spirit of the age/times the set of ideas, beliefs, and aims that are typical of a particular period in history

13 when/as the spirit moves you when you feel that you want to do something

2 verb (T) spirit sb/sth away/off to remove someone or something in a secret or mysterious way: At the end of the press conference Jackson was spirited away through a back door.