spill

¹

[spil]

verb (used with object)

spilled, spilt, spilling. 

1. to cause or allow to run or fall from a container, especially accidentally or wastefully.

   to spill a bag of marbles; to spill milk.

2. to shed (blood), as in killing or wounding.

3. to scatter.

   to spill papers all over everything.

4. Nautical.

   1. to let the wind out of (a sail).

   2. to lose (wind) from a sail.

5. to cause to fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like.

   His horse spilled him.

6. Informal.,  to divulge, disclose, or tell.

   Don't spill the secret.

verb (used without object)

spilled, spilt, spilling. 

1. (of a liquid, loose particles, etc.) to run or escape from a container, especially by accident or in careless handling.

noun

1. a spilling, as of liquid.

2. a quantity spilled.

3. the mark made by something spilled.

4. a spillway.

5. Also called spill light. superfluous or useless light rays, as from theatrical or photographic lighting units.

6. Theater.,  an area of a stage illuminated by spill light.

7. a throw or fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like.

   She broke her arm in a spill.

spill

²

[spil]

noun

1. a splinter.

2. a slender piece of wood or of twisted paper, for lighting candles, lamps, etc.

3. a peg made of metal.

4. a small pin for stopping a cask; spile.

5. Mining.,  forepole.

spill

¹

/ spɪl /

verb

1. to fall or cause to fall from or as from a container, esp unintentionally

2. to disgorge (contents, occupants, etc) or (of contents, occupants, etc) to be disgorged

   the car spilt its passengers onto the road

   the crowd spilt out of the theatre

3. to shed (blood)

4. Also: spill the beans. informal,  to disclose something confidential

5. nautical to let (wind) escape from a sail or (of the wind) to escape from a sail

noun

1. informal,  a fall or tumble

2. short for spillway

3. a spilling of liquid, etc, or the amount spilt

4. the declaring of several political jobs vacant when one higher up becomes so

   the Prime Minister's resignation could mean a Cabinet spill

spill

²

/ spɪl /

noun

1. a splinter of wood or strip of twisted paper with which pipes, fires, etc, are lit

2. a small peg or rod made of metal

Other Word Forms

• spillable adjective
• nonspillable adjective
• unspilled adjective
• spiller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spill¹

First recorded before 950; 1920–25 spill ¹ for def. 6; Middle English spillen “to kill, destroy, shed (blood),” Old English spillan “to kill”; cognate with Middle High German, Middle Dutch spillen; akin to spoil

Origin of spill²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English spille, spil(e); of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of spill¹

Old English spillan to destroy; related to spildan, Old High German spaltan to split; see _spoil

Origin of spill²

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German spilla, Middle Dutch spile stake

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. spill the beans. bean.

2. spill one's guts. gut.

3. spill / toss one's cookies. cookie.

More idioms and phrases containing spill

• shed (spill) blood
• take a spill

Example Sentences

These so-called "car meets" usually result in forms of dangerous illegal driving such as stunts and speed trials, and often spill out on to surrounding roads, locals say.

Read more on BBC

During his playing career, his burning desire to be the best often spilled into raging fires.

Read more on BBC

A white dove was brought out and sacrificed, its blood spilling onto the floor.

Read more on BBC

In 2021, an oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach forced a cancellation of the last day of the weekend.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But ideological newsroom flare-ups that spill into public view are rare.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• discharge 
• dribble 
• empty 
• flow 
• overflow 
• pour 
• run out 
• scatter 
• spill over 
• splash 
• spray 
• sprinkle 
• squirt 
• stream