spill

verb \ ˈspil \

Definition of spill

spilled play \ˈspild, ˈspilt\ also spilt play \ˈspilt\; spilling

transitive verb

1 a archaic :kill, destroy

b :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

3 a :to relieve (a sail) from the pressure of the wind so as to reef or furl it

b :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

1 a :to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost

water spilling over the dam

b :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)

—

spillable

play \ˈspi-lə-bəl\ adjective

—

spiller

noun

— spill one's guts

:to divulge especially personal information

— spill the beans

:to divulge secret or hidden information

See spill defined for English-language learners

See spill defined for kids

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

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spill Synonyms

Synonyms

bare, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Antonyms

cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil

Related Words

confide, share; debunk, show up; unclothe, undrape; advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound; betray, blab, give away, leak; inform, squeal, talk; communicate, impart, relate; acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own; disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth

Near Antonyms

camouflage, disguise; gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash; becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade

spill

noun

Definition of spill

1 :the act or an instance of spilling; especially :a fall from a horse or vehicle or an erect position

2 :something spilled

First Known Use of spill

circa 1845

spill

noun

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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SPILL Defined for English Language Learners

spill

verb

Definition of spill for English Language Learners

: to cause or allow (something) to fall, flow, or run over the edge of a container usually in an accidental way
: to fall or flow over the edge of a container
: to move or spread out into a wider place or area