sprite

/spraɪt/
noun
  1. A small, imaginary creature, often magical or mischievous, like a fairy or elf.
    • Children love to imagine sprites hiding in the garden at night.
    • In the story, a water sprite helped the lost fisherman find his way home.
    • The forest was said to be home to tiny sprites that danced among the flowers.
  2. A small graphic image or character in a video game or computer animation.
    • The game designer created a new sprite for the main character.
    • Each enemy sprite in the game has its own unique animation.
    • She learned how to program a sprite to move across the screen.
  3. A brief flash of light in the upper atmosphere, sometimes seen above thunderstorms.
    • The pilot reported seeing a sprite during the night flight.
    • Scientists captured images of a red sprite above a distant storm.
    • Sprites are a rare and beautiful weather phenomenon.