n. [ OE. fantome, fantosme, fantesme, OF. fantôme, fr. L. phantasma, Gr. fa`ntasma, fr. fai`nein to show. See Fancy, and cf. Phaëton, Phantasm, Phase. ] That which has only an apparent existence; an apparition; a specter; a phantasm; a sprite; an airy spirit; an ideal image. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strange phantoms rising as the mists arise. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

She was a phantom of delight. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Phantom ship. See Flying Dutchman, under Flying. --
Phantom tumor (Med.), a swelling, especially of the abdomen, due to muscular spasm, accumulation of flatus, etc., simulating an actual tumor in appearance, but disappearing upon the administration of an anæsthetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Being, or of the nature of, a phantom.

Phantom isles are floating in the skies. B. Taylor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Phantasmal. [ R. ] Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) The equivalent of an additional circuit or wire, in reality not existing, obtained by certain arrangements of real circuits, as in some multiplex telegraph systems. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]