to spill

Examples

• All

• As the storm approached, the captain ordered the crew to spill the wind to maintain control of the vessel.

• Spill off some of this speed.

  Space Cowboys (2000)

• The door swung open, spilling music and light across the stone balcony.

  Fiction book (1992)

• At the end of the passage, the icy afternoon light spilled in from outdoors again.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Drawers were pulled from the hutch and turned upside down; contents spilled out.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Leila cleans up the sugar that Dottie spills at every station.

  Fiction book (1999)

• With a gentle tug on the mainsheet, he decided to spill the wind to prevent the sail from flapping.

Antonyms

T

to tighten

145 1.5

To make something hold firmly, like a bolt or belt

Idioms

S

to spill the beans

• Informal

18 6.0

Tell a secret by accident before others know

S

to spill one's guts

• Informal

5 8.1

To tell someone your private feelings or secrets openly

Phrasal Verbs

S

to spill out

26 3.6

Move out of a place suddenly in large numbers or fall out of a container and spread

S

to spill over

16 4.2

To move beyond the edge of a container or place

S

to spill coffee

9 1.3

Accidentally pour coffee so it makes a wet stain or mess

S

to spill over

3 5.3

To feel an emotion so strongly that you show it openly

S

to spill your drink

3 1.1

To let the drink in your cup or glass fall by accident

S

to spill ink

7.4

Write a lot, usually by hand with ink

Compounds

I

ink spill

2.1

A small accident when ink leaks onto paper or clothes

How Pressured

to ease

119 2.4

to spill

• Specialized

8 9.1

to reef

• Specialized

1 9.1

to luff

• Specialized

1 9.9

Surface Forms

Etymology