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May 27, 2012
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Dictionary


phan•tom



Pronunciation: (fan'tum), [key]
—n.
1. an apparition or specter.
2. an appearance or illusion without material substance, as a dream image, mirage, or optical illusion.
3. a person or thing of merely illusory power, status, efficacy, etc.: the phantom of fear.
4. an illustration, part of which is given a transparent effect so as to permit representation of details otherwise hidden from view, as the inner workings of a mechanical device.

—adj.
1. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a phantom; illusory: a phantom sea serpent.
2. Elect.noting or pertaining to a phantom circuit.
3. named, included, or recorded but nonexistent; fictitious: Payroll checks were made out and cashed for phantom employees. Also,fantom.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

phantasyphantom circuit
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