to startle or disorient someone or something. A snake spooked my horse, and I nearly fell off. Your warning spooked me, and I was upset for the rest of the day.
spook
1. tv. to frighten or startle someone or something. (see also spooked.) Something I did spooked the teller, and she set off the silent alarm.
2. n. a spy; a CIA (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) agent. I just learned that my uncle had been a spook for years.
spook factory
n. the CIA (U.S. Central Intelligence Agency) near Washington, D.C., where spies are said to be trained. Tom got a job in the spook factory.