Definition of spill
spilled
play play \ˈspild, ˈspilt\ alsospilt
play \ˈspilt\;spilling
transitive verb
1a archaic : kill, destroyb : to cause (blood) to be lost by wounding
2 : to cause or allow especially accidentally or unintentionally to fall, flow, or run out so as to be lost or wasted
3a : to relieve (a sail) from the pressure of the wind so as to reef or furl itb : to relieve the pressure of (wind) on a sail by coming about or by adjusting the sail with lines
4 : to throw off or out a horse spilled him
5 : to let out : divulge spill a secret
intransitive verb
1a : to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost water spilling over the damb : to cause or allow something to spill
2 : to spread profusely or beyond bounds crowds spilled into the streets
3 : to fall from one's place (as on a horse)
spiller
nounspill one's guts
spill the beans
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Examples of spill in a Sentence
I accidentally spilled coffee all over my new suit.
Clean up the flour you spilled on the floor.
a puddle of spilled water
Water spilled over the dam.
She opened the door and light spilled into the room.
an interviewer who gets celebrities to spill their secrets
Come on, spill it. Who gave you the money?
Origin and Etymology of spill
Middle English, from Old English spillan; akin to Old English spildan to destroy and perhaps to Latin spolium animal skin, Greek sphallein to cause to fall
First Known Use: before 12th century
Circa 1845
First Known Use of spill
circa 1845
spill
Definition of spill
1 : a wooden splinter
2 : a small roll or twist of paper or slip of wood for lighting a fire
Origin and Etymology of spill
Middle English spille; akin to Middle Low German spīle thin stick, peg
First Known Use: 14th century
SPILL Defined for English Language Learners
spill
playDefinition of spill for English Language Learners
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: to cause or allow (something) to fall, flow, or run over the edge of a container usually in an accidental way
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: to fall or flow over the edge of a container
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: to move or spread out into a wider place or area
SPILL Defined for Kids
Definition of spill for Students
spilled
\ˈspild\ alsospilt
\ˈspilt\;spilling
1 : to cause or allow to fall, flow, or run out so as to be wasted or scattered I knocked the glass over and spilled my milk.
2 : to flow or run out, over, or off and become wasted or scattered The milk spilled. So I always go as far as the ford, where the river spills across the path … — Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh
3 : to cause (blood) to flow by wounding
4 : to make known I accidentally spilled the secret.
Definition of spill for Students
1 : an act of spilling
2 : a fall especially from a horse or vehicle
3 : something spilled Please mop up the spill on the floor.
Learn More about spill
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See words that rhyme with spill Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spill Spanish Central: Translation of spill Nglish: Translation of spill for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of spill for Arabic speakers
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