| Front | spill |
|---|---|
| Back | verb, noun BrE /spɪl/NAmE /spɪl/ verb (spilled, spilled)(BrE also spilt, spilt /BrE spɪlt; NAmE spɪlt/) 1 [intransitive, transitive] (especially of liquid) to flow over the edge of a container by accident; to make liquid do thisWater had spilled out of the bucket onto the floor. The bag split, and sugar spilled everywhere.~ sth He startled her and made her spill her drink. Thousands of gallons of crude oil were spilled into the ocean. I managed to carry three full glasses without spilling a drop. 2 [intransitive] + adv./prep. (of people) to come out of a place in large numbers and spread outThe doors opened and people spilled into the street. (figurative) Light spilled from the windows. spill the ˈbeans (informal) to tell sb sth that should be kept secret or private spill (sb's)ˈblood (formal or literary) to kill or wound peopleNothing can justify spilling innocent blood. spill your ˈguts (to sb) (NAmE, informal) to tell sb everything you know or feel about sth, because you are upsetHe has spilled his guts in his new autobiography. more at cry over spilt milk at cry v. ˌspill sthˈout| ˌspill ˈout to tell sb all about a problem etc. very quickly; to come out quicklyHas she been spilling out her troubles to you again? When he started to speak, the words just spilled out. ˌspill ˈover (into sth) 1 to fill a container and go over the edgeShe filled the glass so full that the water spilled over. (figurative) Her emotions suddenly spilled over. 2 to start in one area and then affect other areasUnrest has spilt over into areas outside the city. The effects of stress at work can spill over into home life. related noun overspill, spill over noun 1 (also formal spill•age) [countable, uncountable] an act of letting a liquid come or fall out of a container; the amount of liquid that comes or falls outMany seabirds died as a result of the oil spill. I wiped up the coffee spills on the table. 2 [countable] a long match, or a thin piece of twisted paper, used for lighting fires, oil lamps, etc. 3 [countable, usually singular] a fall, especially from a bicycle or a boatto take a spill see thrills and spills at thrill n. |
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