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¹spill

verb \ˈspil\

: to cause or allow (something) to fall, flow, or run over the edge of a container usually in an accidental way

: to fall or flow over the edge of a container

: to move or spread out into a wider place or area

spilled \ˈspild, ˈspilt\ also spilt \ˈspilt\ spill·ing

Full Definition of SPILL

transitive verb

a archaic : kill, destroy

b : to cause (blood) to be lost by wounding

: to cause or allow especially accidentally or unintentionally to fall, flow, or run out so as to be lost or wasted

a : to relieve (a sail) from the pressure of the wind so as to reef or furl it

b : to relieve the pressure of (wind) on a sail by coming about or by adjusting the sail with lines

: to throw off or out <a horse spilled him>

: to let out : divulge <spill a secret>

intransitive verb

a : to flow, run, or fall out, over, or off and become wasted, scattered, or lost <water spilling over the dam>

b : to cause or allow something to spill

: to spread profusely or beyond bounds <crowds spilled into the streets>

: to fall from one's place (as on a horse)

— spill·able \ˈspi-lə-bəl\ adjective

— spill·er noun

— spill one's guts

: to divulge especially personal information

— spill the beans

: to divulge secret or hidden information

See spill defined for English-language learners

See spill defined for kids

Origin of SPILL

Middle English, from Old English spillan; akin to Old English spildan to destroy and perhaps to Latin spolium animal skin, Greek sphallein to cause to fall

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SPILL

Synonyms: bare, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Antonyms: cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil

Rhymes with SPILL

bill, brill, chill, dill, drill, fill, frill, gill, grill, grille, hill, ill, kill, krill, mil, mill, mille, nil, nill, Phil, pill, prill, quill, rill, shill, shrill, sill, skill, squill, still, swill, thill, thrill, til, till, trill, twill, vill, will

²spill

noun

Definition of SPILL

: the act or an instance of spilling; especially : a fall from a horse or vehicle or an erect position

: something spilled

First Known Use of SPILL

circa 1845

³spill

noun

Definition of SPILL

: a wooden splinter

: a small roll or twist of paper or slip of wood for lighting a fire

Origin of SPILL

Middle English spille; akin to Middle Low German spīle thin stick, peg

First Known Use: 14th century

SPILLS Defined for Kids

¹spill

verb \ˈspil\

spilled \ˈspild\ also spilt \ˈspilt\spill·ing

Definition of SPILL for Kids

: to cause or allow to fall, flow, or run out so as to be wasted or scattered <I knocked the glass over and spilled my milk.>

: to flow or run out, over, or off and become wasted or scattered <The milk spilled.> <So I always go as far as the ford, where the river spills across the path … — Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh>

: to cause (blood) to flow by wounding

: to make known <I accidentally spilled the secret.>