spoil

[ spoil ]

/ spɔɪl /

verb (used with object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: The water stain spoiled the painting. Drought spoiled the corn crop.

to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally: Bad weather spoiled their vacation.

to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.: to spoil a child by pampering him.

Archaic. to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.

Archaic. to take or seize by force.

verb (used without object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid: Milk spoils if not refrigerated.

to plunder, pillage, or rob.

noun

Often spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.

the act of plundering.

an object of plundering.

Usually spoils.

the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party: the spoils of office.
prizes won or treasures accumulated: a child's spoils brought home from a party.

waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.

an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.

Idioms for spoil

be spoiling for, Informal. to be very eager for; be desirous of: It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.

Origin of spoil

1300–50; (v.) Middle English spoilen < Old French espoillier < Latin spoliāre to despoil, equivalent to spoli(um) booty + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun) derivative of the v. or < Old French espoille, derivative of espoillier

SYNONYMS FOR spoil

1 disfigure, destroy, demolish, mar. Spoil, ruin, wreck agree in meaning to reduce the value, quality, usefulness, etc., of anything. Spoil is the general term: to spoil a delicate fabric. Ruin implies doing completely destructive or irreparable injury: to ruin one's health. Wreck implies a violent breaking up or demolition: to wreck oneself with drink; to wreck a building.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spoil ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spoil

spoil·a·ble, adjective spoil·less, adjective un·spoil·a·ble, adjective un·spoiled, adjective

Words nearby spoil

spode, spodogenous, spodosol, spodumene, spohr, spoil, spoil bank, spoil for, spoil ground, spoilage, spoiled priest

Example sentences from the Web for unspoiled

After all I'm just a simple, unspoiled girl who wants to become queen.

What Joan Rivers Said She Would Do If She Were Dictator of America |Asawin Suebsaeng |September 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But for me, Marfa is really the gateway to all that this unspoiled region has to offer.

Big-Sky West Texas: A Road Trip Through Hidden America |Condé Nast Traveler |March 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Outside the lodge, the unspoiled African wilderness creates a breathtaking panorama.

Eco-Chic Safari |Sophie Menin |July 27, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
In fact, it may end up being that the unspoiled Vieques sells Ducasse, rather than the other way around.

Alain Ducasse's Caribbean Gamble |David Kaufman |February 16, 2010 |DAILY BEAST

The effect of the announcement on the unspoiled one was like that of an electric shock.

The Helpers |Francis Lynde
If the tapestry is very fine work its surface should be unspoiled by additions.

Social Life |Maud C. Cooke
It was a winning smile, fresh and unspoiled as the lips it touched.

Quick Action |Robert W. Chambers
She had within her, as has every normal, unspoiled woman, the loving impulses and yearning tenderness of motherhood.

Patchwork |Anna Balmer Myers
She had been pampered, she had been given her head; and still she was unspoiled.

Parrot & Co. |Harold MacGrath

British Dictionary definitions for unspoiled (1 of 2)

unspoiled

unspoilt (ʌnˈspɔɪlt)

/ (ʌnˈspɔɪld) /

adjective

(of a village, town, etc) having an unaltered character

British Dictionary definitions for unspoiled (2 of 2)

spoil

/ (spɔɪl) /

verb spoils, spoiling, spoilt or spoiled

(tr) to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc

(tr) to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires

(intr) (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use the fruit must be eaten before it spoils

(intr) sport to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm

archaic to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence

be spoiling for to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)

noun

waste material thrown up by an excavation

any treasure accumulated by a person this gold ring was part of the spoil

obsolete

the act of plundering
a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder

Word Origin for spoil

C13: from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre to strip, from spolium booty

Idioms and Phrases with unspoiled

spoil

In addition to the idioms beginning with spoil

spoil for

also see:

spare the rod and spoil the child
too many cooks spoil the broth
to the victor belong the spoils

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

spoil

verb (used with object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

verb (used without object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

noun

Idioms for spoil

Origin of spoil

SYNONYMS FOR spoil

OTHER WORDS FROM spoil

Words nearby spoil

Example sentences from the Web for unspoiled

British Dictionary definitions for unspoiled (1 of 2)

unspoilt (ʌnˈspɔɪlt)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unspoiled (2 of 2)

verb spoils, spoiling, spoilt or spoiled

noun

Word Origin for spoil

Idioms and Phrases with unspoiled

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

spoil

verb (used with object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

verb (used without object), spoiled or spoilt, spoil·ing.

noun

Idioms for spoil

Origin of spoil

SYNONYMS FOR spoil

OTHER WORDS FROM spoil

Words nearby spoil

Words related to unspoiled

Example sentences from the Web for unspoiled

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for unspoiled (1 of 2)

unspoilt (ʌnˈspɔɪlt)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unspoiled (2 of 2)

verb spoils, spoiling, spoilt or spoiled

noun

Word Origin for spoil

Idioms and Phrases with unspoiled

British Dictionary definitions for unspoiled (1 of 2)