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

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

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

In May, it was handed a £122.7m fine, the biggest ever issued by the water industry regulator, for breaching rules on sewage spills and shareholder payouts.

From BBC

While the EPA’s imminent disaster response work will continue, such as work on oil spills and chemical releases, longer-term efforts including research projects and facility inspections will halt, according to the agency.

From Los Angeles Times

Pasadena police said that three people were injured in the attack after Zavala reportedly became agitated due to a spilled beverage.

From Los Angeles Times

Preparing for, preventing and responding to environmental disasters such as oil spills and chemical releases, known as emergency response readiness operations, will not stop.

From Los Angeles Times

The lines have sat idle since 2015, when a corroded section ruptured near Refugio State Beach, creating one of the state’s worst oil spills.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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