spoil
[ spoil ]
/ spɔɪl /
verb (used with object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.
verb (used without object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.
to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid: Milk spoils if not refrigerated.
to plunder, pillage, or rob.
noun
Words nearby spoil
spode, spodogenous, spodosol, spodumene, spohr, spoil, spoil bank, spoil for, spoil ground, spoilage, spoiled priest
Idioms for spoil
be spoiling for, Informal. to be very eager for; be desirous of: It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.
Origin of spoil
1300–50; (v.) Middle English spoilen < Old French espoillier < Latin spoliāre to despoil, equivalent to spoli(um) booty + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun) derivative of the v. or < Old French espoille, derivative of espoillier
SYNONYMS FOR spoil
1 disfigure, destroy, demolish, mar. Spoil, ruin, wreck agree in meaning to reduce the value, quality, usefulness, etc., of anything. Spoil is the general term: to spoil a delicate fabric. Ruin implies doing completely destructive or irreparable injury: to ruin one's health. Wreck implies a violent breaking up or demolition: to wreck oneself with drink; to wreck a building.
OTHER WORDS FROM spoil
spoil·a·ble, adjectivespoil·less, adjectiveun·spoil·a·ble, adjectiveun·spoiled, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for spoils
British Dictionary definitions for spoils (1 of 2)
spoils
/ (spɔɪlz) /
pl n
(sometimes singular) valuables seized by violence, esp in war
mainly US the rewards and benefits of public office regarded as plunder for the winning party or candidateSee also spoils system
British Dictionary definitions for spoils (2 of 2)
spoil
/ (spɔɪl) /
verb spoils, spoiling, spoilt or spoiled
noun
See also spoils
Word Origin for spoil
C13: from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre to strip, from spolium booty
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
Idioms and Phrases with spoils
spoil
In addition to the idioms beginning with spoil
- spoil for
also see:
- spare the rod and spoil the child
- too many cooks spoil the broth
- to the victor belong the spoils
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.