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spit

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spit

1[spit] verb, spit or spat, spit⋅ting, noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to eject saliva from the mouth; expectorate.
2. to express hatred, contempt, etc., by or as if by ejecting saliva from the mouth.
3. to sputter: grease spitting on the fire.
4. to fall in scattered drops or flakes, as rain or snow.
–verb (used with object)
5. to eject from the mouth: The children were spitting watermelon seeds over the fence.
6. to throw out or emit like saliva: The kettle spits boiling water over the stove.
7. to set a flame to.
–noun
8. saliva, esp. when ejected.
9. the act of spitting.
10. Entomology. spittle.
11. a light fall of rain or snow.
12. spit up, to vomit; throw up: The wounded soldier spat up blood. If you jostle the baby, she'll spit up.
13. spit and image. Also, spitting image, spit 'n' image. Informal. exact likeness; counterpart: Hunched over his desk, pen in hand, he was the spit and image of his father at work.

Origin:
bef. 950; (v.) ME spitten, OE spittan; c. G (dial.) spitzen to spit; akin to OE spǣtan to spit, spātl spittle; (n.) ME, deriv. of the v.


spitlike, adjective


3. spatter.

spit

2[spit] noun, verb, spit⋅ted, spit⋅ting.
–noun
1. a pointed rod or bar for thrusting through and holding meat that is to be cooked before or over a fire.
2. any of various rods, pins, or the like used for particular purposes.
3. a narrow point of land projecting into the water.
4. a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore.
–verb (used with object)
5. to pierce, stab, or transfix, as with a spit; impale on something sharp.
6. to thrust a spit into or through.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME spite, OE spitu; c. MD, MLG spit, spet, OHG spiz spit; akin to ON spīta peg
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To spit
spit 1   (spĭt)   
n.  
  1. Saliva, especially when expectorated; spittle.

  2. The act of expectorating.

  3. Something, such as the frothy secretion of spittle bugs, that resembles spit.

  4. A brief, scattered rainfall or snowfall.

  5. Informal The perfect likeness: He's the spit and image of his father.

v.   spat (spāt) or spit, spit·ting, spits

v.   tr.
  1. To eject from the mouth: spat out the grape seeds.

  2. To eject as if from the mouth: a fire spitting sparks.

  3. To emit suddenly and forcefully: spat out an insult.

v.   intr.
  1. To eject matter from the mouth; expectorate.

  2. To express contempt or animosity by or as if by ejecting matter from the mouth.

  3. To make a hissing or sputtering noise.

  4. To rain or snow in light, scattered drops or flakes.

Phrasal Verb(s):
spit upTo vomit.

[Middle English, from spitten, to spit, from Old English spittan, ultimately of imitative origin.]
spit 2   (spĭt)   
n.  
  1. A slender, pointed rod on which meat is impaled for broiling.

  2. A narrow point of land extending into a body of water.

tr.v.   spit·ted, spit·ting, spits
To impale on or as if on a spit.

[Middle English, from Old English spitu.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1spit
Pronunciation: 'spit
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: spit or spat /'spat/; spit·ting
transitive senses
: to eject (as saliva) from the mouth spit intransitive senses
: to eject saliva from the mouth

Main Entry: 2spit
Function: noun
: SALIVA
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary

SPIT
Language for IBM 650. (See IT).

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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