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splat

1 American  
[splat] / splæt /

noun

  1. Also a broad, flat piece of wood, either pierced or solid, forming the center upright part of a chair back or the like.

  2. a batten for covering joints between sheets of wallboard; panel strip.


splat 2 American  
[splat] / splæt /

noun

  1. a sound made by splattering or slapping.


splat 1 British  
/ splæt /

noun

  1. a wet slapping sound

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

splat 2 British  
/ splæt /

noun

  1. a wide flat piece of wood, esp one that is the upright central part of a chair back

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of splat1

1825–35; origin uncertain; compare Old English splātan to split

Origin of splat2

First recorded in 1895–1900; back formation from splatter


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“Maybe next week, a bald eagle will fall dead out of the sky and splat right on the White House lawn.”

From Salon ● Nov. 9, 2025

The director of the museum, Sharon Ament, said the pigeon and splat represented the "grit and glitter" of the capital.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2024

Plunging 12 stories in a building atrium, though, is just another bruising day on the job for Colt until, oops, he nearly goes splat.

From New York Times ● May 2, 2024

The reasoning for the portal emphasis is simple, Huffman says — the teams don’t want to enter their new conference with a splat.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 2, 2024

Luna felt worry grip her heart in its fist, and two hot tears came tumbling down, hitting the paper with a splat.

From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill

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