ghost

The spectre of a person who has died and who is believed to haunt places at certain times. Ghosts are often described as being indifferent to human presence, though a few are vengeful. Many faiths have special ceremonies - exorcisms - designed to get rid of ghosts.

Taoism sees ghosts as the unsettled spirits of those without descendants, and celebrates a special festival every year to pray for them and thus release them into the next world. In Western tradition, ghosts usually haunt places associated with a tragic moment in their lives.