spill

views updated May 14 2018

spill1 / spil/ • v. (past spilled or spilt / spilt/ ) [tr.] cause or allow (liquid) to flow over the edge of its container, esp. unintentionally: you'll spill that coffee if you're not careful| fig. azaleas spilled cascades of flowers over the pathways. ∎  [intr.] (of liquid) flow over the edge of its container: some of the wine spilled onto the floor| fig. years of frustration spilled over into violence. ∎  [intr.] (of the contents of something) be emptied out onto a surface: passengers' baggage had spilled out of the hold. ∎  cause or allow (the contents of something) to be emptied out: injured cells tend to swell up and burst, spilling their contents. ∎  [intr.] (of a number of people) move out of somewhere quickly: students began to spill out of the building. ∎ inf. reveal (confidential information) to someone: he was reluctant to spill her address. ∎  cause (someone) to fall off a horse or bicycle: the horse was wrenched off course, spilling his rider. ∎  Sailing let (wind) out of a sail, typically by slackening the sheets.• n. 1. a quantity of liquid that has spilled or been spilled: a 25-ton oil spill wipe up spills immediately | fig. their shifting spill of lantern-light. ∎  an instance of a liquid spilling or being spilled: he was absolved from any blame for the oil spill.2. a fall from a horse or bicycle: Granddad took a spill while riding the bay mare.PHRASES: spill the beans inf. reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly.spill (someone's) blood kill or wound people.spill one's guts inf. reveal copious information to someone in an uninhibited way.DERIVATIVES: spill·er n.spill2 • n. a thin strip of wood or paper used for lighting a fire, candle, pipe, etc.

spill

views updated May 21 2018

spill1 pt., pp. spilt, spilled †put to death, destroy, waste OE.; shed (blood) XII; allow or cause (liquid) to fall or pour XIV (hence intr. XVII). OE. spillan = (M)LG., (M)Du. spillen, rel. to OE. spildan destroy = OS: spildian, OHG. spilden, ON. spilla (:- *spilpjan), of unkn. orig.
Hence spilth (-TH1) XVII.

Spill

views updated Jun 08 2018

Spill

a small quantity of moneyJohnson, 1755; a small amount of spilt liquid.

Examples : spill of hearts blood, 1848; of money, 1707; of rain, 1888.

spill

views updated May 29 2018

spill2 splinter or slip of wood, etc. XIII; thin, slip of wood, etc. for lighting XIX. of uncert. orig
.

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