verb
spill
spih
verb
1
To let liquid or loose material fall out of a container by accident.
"She spilled coffee all over her keyboard."
"Try not to spill the flour across the counter."
2
To reveal secret or private information.
"He finally spilled the details of the surprise party."
noun
1
An amount of liquid that has spilled, or the mess it leaves.
"Cleanup crews rushed to the oil spill along the coastline."
How to Use Spill
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo let something (usually liquid) fall out accidentally, or to accidentally reveal a secret.
Common pairings
spill the beans
oil spill
spill a drink
Word Forms
spilled past tense, spilt past tense, spills plural, spills singular
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Etymology
From Old English spillan, "to destroy or waste" — the modern sense of accidentally pouring something out developed later.