spill

SPIL/spɪl/

Noun pluralspills

27 meanings of spill

1
verbtransitive
To let a liquid fall out by accident and make a mess.
Like knocking over a cup so the drink runs everywhere.
I spilled juice all over the kitchen table.
Be careful not to spill your coffee on the rug.
Similarslop, splash, slosh
Note
2
nouncountable
A mess made when something, often a liquid, falls or pours out.
Like a puddle of juice on the floor after a cup tips over.
There's a big spill on the floor by the fridge.
Someone needs to wipe up that spill before it stains.
Similarmess, slick
3
verbintransitive
To spread out or fall from a container by accident.
Like sand pouring out of a bag with a hole in it.
Coffee can spill if you fill the cup too high.
The beans spilled out when the bag ripped.
Similarpour, slop
Note
4
verbintransitive
To flow or move out beyond the edge of where something should stay.
Like water rising over the edge of a full bathtub.
The crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk after the show.
People spill into the square when the market opens.
Similarpour, stream, flood, surge, overflow
5
nouncountable
A fall, especially from a bike, horse, or while moving fast.
Like falling off a swing and landing on the grass.
She took a nasty spill on her bike yesterday.
He had a bad spill on the icy steps.
Similarfall, tumble
6
verbtransitive or intransitive
To tell a secret or share information that someone didn't know.
Like opening a box and letting everyone see what's inside.
He spilled everything as soon as his mom asked.
Please don't spill the secret to anyone.
Similarreveal, divulge, disclose, tell, leak
Oppositeconceal, withhold
Note
7
verbtransitive
To drop a ball or object you were trying to catch.
Like a cup slipping out of your wet hands.
Even great keepers can spill a simple catch under pressure.
She spilled the ball as the tackle came in.
Similardrop, fumble
Oppositecatch, hold
Note
8
verbfigurativelyintransitive
To flow out or over an edge, used for things that aren't really liquids.
Like sunlight pouring through a window the way water would.
Sunlight spilled across the floor through the curtains.
Laughter began to spill out of the crowded room.
Similarpour, flow, stream, flood, spread
9
verbtransitive
To cause blood or another liquid to flow out and be lost.
Like pouring out a drink onto the ground so none is left.
Wars spill the blood of many innocent people.
They spilled blood defending their homes.
Similarshed
Note
10
nouncountable
A thin stick or rolled paper used to carry a flame and light something.
Like a long match made from rolled-up paper.
She lit a spill from the fire and held it to the candle.
He twisted a paper spill to light his pipe.
Similartaper
Note

11
verbtransitive
To pour out words or feelings, often again and again or in great detail.
Like a jug tipping over and letting all the words pour out.
She spilled all her thoughts into her diary that night.
He likes to spill every detail of his day to his friends.
Similarpour, express, vent
Oppositesuppress
12
verbintransitive
To come apart or come loose so it no longer holds together.
Like a shoelace coming untied all by itself.
The knot spilled as soon as he pulled the rope.
A loose braid will spill if you don't tie the end.
Similarslip, loosen, give
Oppositehold
13
verbtransitive
To ruin, damage, or waste something by using it badly.
Like breaking a toy by playing with it the wrong way.
He spilled his savings on foolish bets.
Try not to spill such a good chance.
Similarwaste, squander, ruin
Oppositesave, preserve
Note
14
nounAustraliancountable
In Australian politics, a vote to make a party leader's job open again so members can choose a new one.
Like reopening a job everyone thought was filled, so anyone can try for it.
The party called a spill after losing three elections in a row.
A spill meant every member could vote for a new leader.
Note
15
verbAustraliantransitive
In Australian politics, to declare a party's top jobs open so members can vote on them again.
The members voted to spill the leadership at the morning meeting.
Rivals tried to spill the top job after the budget failed.
Note
16
verbobsoletetransitive
To throw a rider off a horse or out of a carriage.
The startled mare spilled her rider into the ditch.
Then, not thirty feet beyond, a sudden panicky lunge to the side by his horse spilled him from the saddle.
2007, Eric Flint, David WeberHere, spilled means threw off, so the horse threw him from the saddle.
Note
17
verbobsoleteintransitive
To be ruined, wasted, or brought to nothing.
That thou wilt suffer innocence to spill.
1387, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Man of Lawes Tale”Here, spill means be ruined or destroyed, so innocence would perish.
This winter’s weather it waxeth cold, / And frost it freezeth on every hill, / And Boreas blows his blast so bold / That all our cattle are like to spill.
16th century, Anonymous, "The Old Cloak"Here, spill means die or perish, so the cattle may die.
Note
18
nounobsolete
A small amount of money.
Like the few coins left at the bottom of a pocket.
He paid the boy a spill for carrying the bags.
Spill or Sportule for the same from the credulous Laity
1726, John Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici AnglicaniHere, Spill means a small sum of money.
Note
19
noun
Unwanted sound that a microphone picks up from somewhere other than its target.
20
noun
A thin, narrow piece of something, made of any kind of material.
21
noun
A thin metal rod or pin.
22
noun
A peg or pin used to plug a hole, such as in a barrel.
23
verb
To decorate a surface by setting in thin pieces of wood, metal, or ivory.
24
noun
A thick board or pole pushed in ahead of the main supports when digging through loose ground.
25
noun
A thin strip or stick used in the game of jackstraws.
26
verb
To let the wind out of a sail so it is easier to fold up or take in.
27
noundialectalShropshire
A thin splinter stuck in the skin.

Practice

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Origin

From Old English spillan, meaning "to kill, destroy, or waste."