spirit

noun (WAY OF FEELING)

/ˈspɪr.ɪt/

Definition

B2 [S or U] a particular way of thinking, feeling, or behaving, especially a way that is typical of a particular group of people, an activity, a time, or a place: The players have a very strong team spirit (= loyalty to each other). As rock musicians in the 1960s, they were very much part of the spirit of the age/times. We acted in a spirit of cooperation.Feelings - general words spirits B2 [plural] › the way a person is feeling: I've been in high/low spirits (= feeling happy/sad) lately. Her spirits lifted/rose (= she felt happier) as she read the letter. The negative reply dashed his spirits (= made him unhappy).Moods the spirit of a law, rule, etc. › the principle that a law, rule, etc. was created to make stronger, rather than the particular things it says you must or must not do: They followed neither the spirit nor the letter of the law.Morality and rules of behaviour enter/get into the spirit › to show enthusiasm and enjoyment: They went to the tennis club a few times but never really got into the spirit of it.Celebrating and entertaining that's the spirit › used to approve or encourage someone's positive attitude (= way of thinking) or action: "Come on, we can win this game." "That's the spirit."Encouraging and urging onInspiration and inspiring

(Definition of spirit noun (WAY OF FEELING) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Browse related topics

You are looking at an entry to do with Morality and rules of behaviour, but you might be interested in these topics from the Good and bad topic area: