vampire

Everyday

1. In stories and legends, a vampire is a dead person who rises from the grave at night and drinks the blood of living people. tree →
2. A vampire bat is a real small bat from Central and South America that feeds on the blood of animals. tree →
3. (informal) A vampire can be a person or thing that drains your energy, time or money: «energy vampire». tree →

In the lessons

Vampires appear in spooky stories, Halloween costumes and films; the most famous is Count Dracula, from a book by Bram Stoker. In folk tales vampires fear garlic, sunlight and crosses, and have no reflection — these are made-up beliefs. In science, vampire bats make tiny cuts and lap the blood; they hardly ever bite people. Phrases: «vampire bat», «vampire fangs», «energy vampire».

Examples

• In the story, the vampire only came out at night. tree →
• My brother dressed up as a vampire with plastic fangs for Halloween. tree →
• Count Dracula is the most famous vampire. tree →
• Vampire bats lick up blood from sleeping cows. tree →
• Old stories say vampires are scared of garlic. tree →
• Phone chargers left plugged in are «energy vampires». tree →
• Vampires are not real; they are a legend. tree →
• The origin of the Vampire is hidden in obscurity. tree →

Note

Plural «vampires». Vampires are made-up; vampire bats are real. Trap: vampire bats do not suck blood; they lap it like a cat drinking milk. The word came into English from Slavic languages through German.