1. A Ghost or Specter: This is the most common understanding of "phantom." It refers to a ghost or apparition, a disembodied spirit that appears to the living.
2. Something Imaginary or Illusory: "Phantom" can also describe something that seems real but isn't, like a phantom limb, a sensation of pain or movement in a limb that has been amputated.
3. In Technology:
* PhantomJS: A headless web browser, meaning it runs without a graphical user interface, used for testing web pages and applications.
* Phantom Limb: A sensation of pain or movement in a limb that has been amputated.
4. In Music and Entertainment:
* Phantom of the Opera: A famous musical and novel about a masked figure who haunts the Paris Opera House.
* Phantom Limb: A band from the UK.
5. Other:
* Phantom Thread: A film about a renowned dressmaker.
* Phantom Pain: A type of pain experienced after an amputation, as if the limb were still there.
To understand the meaning of "phantom" in a specific context, you'll need more information. Please provide the sentence or situation where you encountered the word "phantom."