phantasm

phan·tasm  (fntzm)

n.

1. Something apparently seen but having no physical reality; a phantom or an apparition. Also called phantasma.

2. An illusory mental image. Also called phantasma.

3. In Platonic philosophy, objective reality as perceived and distorted by the five senses.

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[Middle English fantasme, from Old French, from Latin phantasma, from Greek, from phantazein, to make visible, from phantos, visible, from phainein, to show; see bh-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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phan·tasmal (fn-tzml), phan·tasmic (-tzmk) adj.

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phantasm

Noun

1. a phantom

2. an unreal vision; illusion [Greek phantasma]

phantasmal adj

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phantasm

a vision or other perception of something that has no physical or objective reality, as a ghost or other supernatural apparition. Also phantasma. See also images; philosophy.

See also: Perception

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a vision or other perception of something that has no physical or objective reality, especially in the sense of a ghost or other supernatural apparition. Also phantasma. See also images; philosophy.

See also: Ghosts

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the mental image or representation of a real person or thing. See also ghosts; perception.

See also: Images, Philosophy

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	phantasm - a ghostly appearing figure; "we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us" apparition, fantasm, phantasma, phantom, spectre, specter disembodied spirit, spirit - any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings Flying Dutchman - the captain of a phantom ship (the Flying Dutchman) who was condemned to sail against the wind until Judgment Day
	2.	phantasm - something existing in perception only; "a ghostly apparition at midnight" fantasm, phantasma, phantom, shadow, apparition flying saucer, UFO, unidentified flying object - an (apparently) flying object whose nature is unknown; especially those considered to have extraterrestrial origins Flying Dutchman - a phantom ship that is said to appear in storms near the Cape of Good Hope ghost, specter, wraith, spectre, spook, shade - a mental representation of some haunting experience; "he looked like he had seen a ghost"; "it aroused specters from his past" illusion, semblance - an erroneous mental representation