vampires

IPA/ˈvæm.paɪər/
KK[vˈæmpaɪrz]IPA/ˈvæm.paɪr/

vampires — noun

  • vampiressingular
  • vampiresesplural

1. In folklore and horror fiction, a dead body that leaves its grave after dark and

1.nounB1
Definition

In folklore and horror fiction, a dead body that leaves its grave after dark and drinks the blood of living people to survive.

Example

Caleb watched an old horror film about vampires that attack a small village in Transylvania.

collocation: vampire + attack a village

Kemi's little brother wore a vampire costume for Halloween, with plastic fangs and a black cape.

Common collocations
  • drink blood
  • suck blood
  • vampire bite
  • vampire hunter
  • vampire legend
Synonyms
  • bloodsucker

    less formal; often used as an insult rather than to describe the mythical creature

  • undead

    broader category that includes vampires, zombies, and ghosts

Grammar Patterns

vampire + verb (attack, bite, rise)

Usage Note

Frequently used in the plural (vampires) when referring to the creatures as a type or species.

Common Mistakes

The vampire can flies at night.
The vampire can fly at night.
modal verbs (can, must, should) are followed by the base form of the verb, not an -ing or -s form.

2. Someone who takes advantage of other people by using up their money, time, or en

2.nounB2
Definition

Someone who takes advantage of other people by using up their money, time, or energy without giving anything useful back.

Example

Bao called his landlord a vampire because she raised the rent but never fixed the broken heater.

metaphorical use: like a vampire draining resources

The online streaming service was called a corporate vampire for charging customers hidden fees on every transaction.

Common collocations
  • corporate vampire
  • energy vampire
  • vampire of
  • vampire landlord
Synonyms
  • parasite

    more general; describes anyone who lives off others without contributing

  • bloodsucker

    informal; stronger negative emotional tone

  • predator

    focuses on the harm done to victims, not the benefit taken

Antonyms
  • benefactor

    someone who gives help or money generously

Grammar Patterns

vampire + of + noun

Usage Note

Used as a critical metaphor; the subject is commonly a manager, employer, landlord, or large company.

Common Mistakes

The company is a vampires.
The company is a vampire.
even when referring to an organisation, use the singular form: 'a vampire'.

vampires — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Vampires, zombies, ghosts, and werewolves are all supernatural creatures in folklore and fiction, but they have very different traits. A vampire is a dead person who rises from the grave at night to drink the blood of living people. A zombie is a reanimated corpse that moves slowly and hungers for human flesh, not blood. A ghost is the spirit of a dead person that can appear to the living but has no physical body. A werewolf is a living person who transforms into a wolf during a full moon. In popular culture, vampires are often portrayed as intelligent and seductive, while zombies are mindless, ghosts are invisible or ethereal, and werewolves are driven by instinct. For example: 'Dracula is a vampire who controls wolves and sleeps in a coffin,' but 'The zombie shuffled through the empty mall looking for food.'

vampire ↗zombie ↗ghost ↗werewolf ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • vampire hunter
  • vampire slayer
  • vampire bat

Prepositions

Etymology

SerbianGermanFrenchEnglish

The word 'vampire' entered English in the early 1700s from French 'vampire', which came from German 'Vampir'. The German word was borrowed from Serbian 'vampir', part of a group of Slavic words found in many Eastern European languages. Vampire stories have existed for centuries in Balkan folklore, but the word became widely known in Western Europe during the 18th century, when travellers and scholars brought back tales from the region. The modern image of the vampire as an aristocratic, caped figure was shaped by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel 'Dracula' and later Hollywood films.

First known use

1732

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1