vampire

vampire — noun

1. A mythical undead creature from folklore that rises from its burial place after

1.名詞A2
釋義

A mythical undead creature from folklore that rises from its burial place after dark and survives by biting people and drinking their blood.

例句

According to local legend, a vampire haunts the old cemetery on the hill.

countable noun with indefinite article

In many old tales, villagers drove wooden stakes through vampires' hearts to stop them.

vampires (plural) + possessive form

同義詞
  • undead

    broader category; refers to any reanimated corpse, not just blood-drinkers

  • bloodsucker

    informal or literary term that emphasises the feeding habit

反義詞
  • human

    a living person as opposed to an undead creature

  • mortal

    a being subject to natural death, unlike a vampire

文法句型

a + vampire

the + vampire

vampires (plural)

用法筆記

Countable noun. Usually takes the indefinite article or plural form. Frequently appears in possessive constructions (vampire's, vampires').

常見錯誤

❌The vampire bit the man and then he died.
✅The vampire bit the man, and the man later became a vampire himself.
💡In most folklore traditions, a vampire's bite does not immediately kill; it turns the victim into another vampire.

2. A person, business, or institution that takes advantage of others by extracting

2.名詞B2
釋義

A person, business, or institution that takes advantage of others by extracting their money, time, or emotional energy for selfish gain.

例句

The landlord was a real vampire, collecting rent but never fixing the broken pipes.

metaphorical use with 'real' emphasiser

Critics called the payday loan company a vampire that fed on struggling families.

同義詞
  • predator

    less figurative than 'vampire'; can describe both literal and figurative exploitation

  • parasite

    stronger negative connotation; implies the exploiter contributes nothing in return

  • bloodsucker

    informal, synonymous with the figurative use of 'vampire'

反義詞
  • benefactor

    a person or organisation that gives rather than takes

  • philanthropist

    someone who actively helps others, especially financially

文法句型

a + vampire

vampire + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Metaphorical, informal, and often hyperbolic. Commonly paired with modifiers like 'corporate', 'financial', or 'emotional' to specify the type of exploitation. Frequently pejorative.

常見錯誤

❌That company is a vampire for using old equipment.
✅That company is a vampire because it steals ideas from smaller competitors.
💡'Vampire' implies active predation, not just poor management or frugality.

vampire — adjective