vampire

n. a legendary monster that stays alive by drinking the blood of living people.

n. a mythological or folkloric being, typically undead, that subsists by feeding on the life essence or blood of the living.

“In the old stories, a vampire cannot enter your house unless you invite them in.”

“Gothic literature often portrays the vampire as a sophisticated but cursed figure, trapped between the world of the living and the dead.”

n. someone who uses up all your time, money, or emotional energy.

n. a person who preys on others by depleting their emotional, financial, or physical resources.

“I had to stop hanging out with him because he was such an emotional vampire.”

“The CEO was described as a corporate vampire, stripping the company of its assets before moving on to his next target.”

Informal

n. a type of bat that feeds on the blood of other animals.

n. any of various bats of the subfamily Desmodontinae that feed on the blood of birds and mammals.

“The vampire bat usually feeds on sleeping cattle during the night.”

“Unlike the fruit-eating varieties, the vampire bat has evolved specialized heat sensors to locate blood vessels near the skin of its prey.”

n. a person whose job is to take blood from patients for medical tests.

n. a slang term for a phlebotomist or medical technician specializing in the collection of blood samples.

“The vampire at the clinic was very quick and I didn't feel the needle at all.”

“Hospital staff jokingly referred to the night-shift phlebotomist as the resident vampire due to his uncanny ability to find a vein in the dark.”

American English · Slang · Humorous

v. to slowly take away someone's energy or money.

v. to deplete or exhaust a person or organization of resources or vitality.

“The long legal battle started to vampire all of her savings.”

“The constant demands of the project began to vampire the team's morale, leading to several resignations.”

Informal