Spill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spilt p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling.] To cover or decorate with slender pieces of wood, metal, ivory, etc.; to inlay. [Obs.]
Spill v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spilled or Spilt p. pr. & vb. n. Spilling.]
1. To destroy; to kill; to put an end to. [Obs.]
And gave him to the queen, all at her will
To choose whether she would him save or spill. --Chaucer.
Greater glory think [it] to save than spill. --Spenser.
2. To mar; to injure; to deface; hence, to destroy by misuse; to waste. [Obs.]
They [the colors] disfigure the stuff and spill the whole workmanship. --Puttenham.
Spill not the morning, the quintessence of day, in recreations. --Fuller.
3. To suffer to fall or run out of a vessel; to lose, or suffer to be scattered; -- applied to fluids and to substances whose particles are small and loose; as, to spill water from a pail; to spill quicksilver from a vessel; to spill powder from a paper; to spill sand or flour.
Note: ☞ Spill differs from pour in expressing accidental loss, -- a loss or waste contrary to purpose.
4. To cause to flow out and be lost or wasted; to shed, or suffer to be shed, as in battle or in manslaughter; as, a man spills another's blood, or his own blood.
And to revenge his blood so justly spilt. --Dryden.
5. Naut. To relieve a sail from the pressure of the wind, so that it can be more easily reefed or furled, or to lessen the strain.
Spilling line Naut., a rope used for spilling, or dislodging, the wind from the belly of a sail.
Spilt imp. & p. p. of Spill. Spilled.
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spill
n 1: liquid that is spilled; "clean up the spills"
2: a channel that carries excess water over or around a dam or
other obstruction [syn: spillway, wasteweir]
3: the act of allowing a fluid to escape [syn: spillage, release]
4: a sudden drop from an upright position; "he had a nasty
spill on the ice" [syn: tumble, fall]
v 1: cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a
container; "spill the milk"; "splatter water" [syn: slop,
splatter]
2: flow, run or fall out and become lost; "The milk spilled
across the floor"; "The wine spilled onto the table" [syn:
run out]
3: cause or allow (a solid substance) to flow or run out or
over; "spill the beans all over the table" [syn: shed, disgorge]
4: pour out in drops or small quantities or as if in drops or
small quantities; "shed tears"; "spill blood"; "God shed
His grace on Thee" [syn: shed, pour forth]
5: reveal information; "If you don't oblige me, I'll talk!";
"The former employee spilled all the details" [syn: talk]
[also: spilt]