spill
1to cause or allow to run or fall from a container, especially accidentally or wastefully: to spill a bag of marbles; to spill milk.
to shed (blood), as in killing or wounding.
to scatter: to spill papers all over everything.
Nautical.
to let the wind out of (a sail).
to lose (wind) from a sail.
to cause to fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like: His horse spilled him.
Informal. to divulge, disclose, or tell: Don't spill the secret.
(of a liquid, loose particles, etc.) to run or escape from a container, especially by accident or in careless handling.
a spilling, as of liquid.
a quantity spilled.
the mark made by something spilled.
a spillway.
Also called spill light [spil-lahyt] /ˈspɪl ˌlaɪt/ . superfluous or useless light rays, as from theatrical or photographic lighting units.
Theater. an area of a stage illuminated by spill light.
a throw or fall from a horse, vehicle, or the like: She broke her arm in a spill.
Idioms about spill
spill the beans. bean (def. 11).
spill / toss one's cookies. cookie (def. 8).
spill one's guts. Slang. gut (def. 14).
Origin of spill
1Other words from spill
- spill·a·ble, adjective, noun
- non·spill·a·ble, adjective
- un·spilled, adjective
Other definitions for spill (2 of 2)
a splinter.
a slender piece of wood or of twisted paper, for lighting candles, lamps, etc.
a peg made of metal.
a small pin for stopping a cask; spile.
Mining. forepole.
Origin of spill
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for spill (1 of 2)
/ (spɪl) /
(when intr, usually foll by from, out of, etc) to fall or cause to fall from or as from a container, esp unintentionally
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
to shed (blood)
Also: spill the beans informal to disclose something confidential
nautical to let (wind) escape from a sail or (of the wind) to escape from a sail
informal a fall or tumble
short for spillway
a spilling of liquid, etc, or the amount spilt
Australian the declaring of several political jobs vacant when one higher up becomes so: the Prime Minister's resignation could mean a Cabinet spill
Origin of spill
1Derived forms of spill
- spiller, noun
British Dictionary definitions for spill (2 of 2)
/ (spɪl) /
a splinter of wood or strip of twisted paper with which pipes, fires, etc, are lit
a small peg or rod made of metal
Origin of spill
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with spill
In addition to the idiom beginning with spill
- spill the beans
also see:
- shed (spill) blood
- take a spill
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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