Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   spoil

   /spɔɪl/

   verb

   • 1. diminish or destroy the value or quality of: "I wouldn't want to spoil your fun" Similar mardamageimpairblemishdisfigureblightflawdefacescarinjureharmruindestroywreckbe a blot on the landscaperare:disfeatureOpposite improveenhance
   • ▪ prevent someone from enjoying (an occasion or event): "she was afraid of spoiling Christmas for the rest of the family" Similar ruinwreckdestroyupsetundomess upmake a mess ofdashsabotagescupperscotchtorpedoblastvitiatecast a shadow overcast a pall overclouddarkentake the shine offput a damper ontake the enjoyment/pleasure out oftake the edge offupset someone's apple cartcook someone's gooseinformal:foul uplouse upmuck upqueerscrew upput the kibosh onbanjaxblow a hole indo fornixcock updishmullerqueer someone's pitchthrow a spanner in the works ofrain on someone's paradethrow a monkey wrench in the works ofcrueleuchrevulgar slang:fuck upbugger upballs uparchaic:bring to naughtOpposite furtherhelpenhance
   • ▪ mark (a ballot paper) incorrectly so as to make one's vote invalid, especially as a gesture of protest: British "the group called on its supporters to spoil their papers"
   • ▪ (of food) become unfit for eating: "I've got some ham that'll spoil if we don't eat it tonight" Similar go badgo offgo rancidturngo soursourgo mouldymoulderbecome addledcurdlebecome rottenrotperishdecomposedecayputrefyOpposite keep
   • 2. harm the character of (someone, especially a child) by being too lenient or indulgent: "the last thing I want to do is spoil Thomas" Similar overindulgepamperindulgemollycoddlecossetcoddlebabyspoon-feedwait on hand and footcater to someone's every whimoverparentkill with kindnessnannynursemaiddote onwrap in cotton woolfeather-bedarchaic:cockerOpposite neglecttreat harshlybe strict with
   • ▪ treat with great or excessive kindness, consideration, or generosity: "breakfast in bed—you're spoiling me!"
   • 3. be extremely or aggressively eager for: "Cooper was spoiling for a fight"
   • 4. rob (a person or a place) of goods or possessions by force or violence: archaic "the enemy entered into Hereford, spoiled and fired the city, and razed the walls to the ground"

   noun

   • 1. goods stolen or taken forcibly from a person or place: "the looters carried their spoils away"
   • 2. waste material brought up during the course of an excavation or a dredging or mining operation: "colliery spoil"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘to plunder’): shortening of Old French espoille (noun), espoillier (verb), from Latin spoliare, from spolium ‘plunder, skin stripped from an animal’, or a shortening of despoil.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPOIL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SPOIL definition: 1. to destroy or reduce the pleasure, interest, or beauty of something: 2. When food spoils or is…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoilSpoil Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › spoil

   • Cached

   spoil: [noun] plunder taken from an enemy in war or from a victim in robbery : loot. public offices made the property of a successful party. something valuable or desirable gained through special effort or opportunism or in return for a favor.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › spoilSPOIL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › spoil

   • Cached

   Spoil definition: to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.. See examples of SPOIL used in a sentence.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSPOIL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   10 meanings: 1. to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc 2. to weaken the character of.... Click for more definitions.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishspoil verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   [transitive] spoil something to change something good into something bad, unpleasant, etc. synonym ruin Our camping trip was spoilt by bad weather. Don't let him spoil your evening. The tall buildings have spoiled the view. Don't eat too many nuts—you'll spoil your appetite (= will no longer be hungry at the proper time to eat).; I won’t tell you what happens in the last chapter—I don ...

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSPOILS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SPOILS definition: 1. goods, advantages, profits, etc. that you get by your actions or because of your position or…. Learn more.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spoilSpoil - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › spoil

   When you spoil something, you destroy it or ruin its quality. If you spoil a surprise, you tell the secret you were supposed to keep.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › spoilSpoil - definition of spoil by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › spoil

   • Cached

   a. To impair or destroy the quality or value of; ruin: spoiled the dish by adding too much salt.

10. en.wiktionary.org › wiki › spoilspoil - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

    en.wiktionary.org › wiki › spoil

    • Cached

    Jul 11, 2024 · it was her own knife; little sister Mary had left it to her upon her deathbed, and she ought to have had it to keep herself long ago. But mama kept it from her, and was always letting Betsey get hold of it; and the end of it would be that Betsey would spoil it, and get it for her own, though mama had promised her that Betsey should not ...

11. www.yourdictionary.com › spoilSpoil Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › spoil

    • Cached

    Spoil definition: To impair or destroy the value or quality of; ruin.