GHOUL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ghoul mean? 

• GHOUL (noun)
  The noun GHOUL has 2 senses:

1. someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissection

2. an evil spirit or ghost

  Familiarity information: GHOUL used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GHOUL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who takes bodies from graves and sells them for anatomical dissection

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

body snatcher; ghoul; graverobber

Hypernyms ("ghoul" is a kind of...):

stealer; thief (a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An evil spirit or ghost

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("ghoul" is a kind of...):

evil spirit (a spirit tending to cause harm)

 Context examples 

Do you suppose I eat like an ogre or a ghoul, that you dread being the companion of my repast?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)