spoil

[spoil] /spɔɪl/
verb (used with object), spoiled or spoilt, spoiling.
1.
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.
2.
to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally:
Bad weather spoiled their vacation.
3.
to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.:
to spoil a child by pampering him.
4.
Archaic. to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.
5.
Archaic. to take or seize by force.
verb (used without object), spoiled or spoilt, spoiling.
6.
to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid:
Milk spoils if not refrigerated.
7.
to plunder, pillage, or rob.
noun
8.
Often, spoils. booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
9.
the act of plundering.
10.
an object of plundering.
11.
Usually, spoils.
  1. the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party:
    the spoils of office.
  2. prizes won or treasures accumulated:
    a child's spoils brought home from a party.
12.
waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
13.
an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.
Idioms
14.
be spoiling for, Informal. to be very eager for; be desirous of:
It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.
Origin
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
Related forms
spoilable, adjective
spoilless, adjective
unspoilable, adjective
unspoiled, adjective
Synonyms
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.
Examples from the web for spoils
  • As gasoline cars gained the upper hand, they were able to capture spoils that go to the victors of technological battles.
  • It spoils the enjoyment of a campus tour if your visitor is hobbling around in slick-soled shoes.
  • But the party spoilsman, in some cities, still looks upon school janitors and employees as legitimate party spoils.
  • Besides the usual spoils of war, the conquerors sought human captives, which were essential for a king to maintain power.
  • Accompanying ceramics and other material increase knowledge about former trading routes and the spoils of war.
  • The crew shared the spoils, with the captain and the higher-ranked crew getting extra.
  • The oligarchs, as they were known, were rapacious sorts who jousted among themselves for spoils.
  • As such, they haven't evolved the tendency to distribute the spoils of teamwork.
  • Especially in hot climates, where meat spoils quickly, people traditionally use spices to disinfect their food.
  • Meanwhile, they enjoyed the spoils of their success.
British Dictionary definitions for spoils

spoils

/spɔɪlz/
plural noun
1.
(sometimes sing) valuables seized by violence, esp in war
2.
(mainly US) the rewards and benefits of public office regarded as plunder for the winning party or candidate See also spoils system

spoil

/spɔɪl/
verb spoils, spoiling, spoilt, spoiled
1.
(transitive) to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
2.
(transitive) to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
3.
(intransitive) (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use: the fruit must be eaten before it spoils
4.
(intransitive) (sport) to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm
5.
(archaic) to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
6.
be spoiling for, to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)
noun
7.
waste material thrown up by an excavation
8.
any treasure accumulated by a person: this gold ring was part of the spoil
9.
(obsolete)
  1. the act of plundering
  2. a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder
See also spoils
Word Origin
C13: from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre to strip, from spolium booty
Word Origin and History for spoils

spoil

v.

c.1300, from Old French espoillier "to strip, plunder," from Latin spoliare "to strip of clothing, rob," from spolium "armor stripped from an enemy, booty;" originally "skin stripped from a killed animal," from PIE *spol-yo-, perhaps from root *spel- "to split, to break off" (cf. Greek aspalon "skin, hide," spolas "flayed skin;" Lithuanian spaliai "shives of flax;" Old Church Slavonic rasplatiti "to cleave, split;" Middle Low German spalden, Old High German spaltan "to split;" Sanskrit sphatayati "splits").

Sense of "to damage so as to render useless" is from 1560s; that of "to over-indulge" (a child, etc.) is from 1640s (implied in spoiled). Intransitive sense of "to go bad" is from 1690s. To be spoiling for (a fight, etc.) is from 1865, from notion that one will "spoil" if he doesn't get it. Spoil-sport attested from 1801.

n.

"goods captured in time of war," c.1300; see spoil (v.). Spoils system in U.S. politics attested by 1839, commonly associated with the administration of President Andrew Jackson, on the notion of "to the victor belongs the spoils."

Slang definitions & phrases for spoils

spoil

verb

To kill; waste: You wanted to hate his guts so it would be easier to spoil him? (1980s+)


Idioms and Phrases with spoils

spoil

In addition to the idioms beginning with spoil
spoil for
also see: