spitting
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.raining very lightly.
v.precipitating in very small, light drops; used with the impersonal 'it'.
Simple“You don't need an umbrella yet; it's only spitting.”
In context“It was only spitting when we left the house, but by the time we reached the station, the light drizzle had turned into a downpour.”
UsageAlmost always used with the dummy subject 'it' in a continuous tense.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.forcing liquid or food out of your mouth.
v.the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth.
Simple“The player was penalized for spitting on the grass during the game.”
In context“The toddler kept spitting out his vegetables, much to the frustration of his parents who were trying to encourage a balanced diet.”
SynonymsexpectoratingAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.saying something in a very angry or aggressive way.
v.uttering words with a sharp, hissing sound, typically as an expression of intense anger or contempt.
Simple“He was spitting mad by the time the manager arrived to help.”
In context“She was spitting insults at the driver who had nearly caused a collision by changing lanes without signaling.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.the act of clearing liquid from the throat or mouth.
n.the act of expectorating; the discharge of phlegm or saliva.
Simple“The old medical book described the patient's constant spitting as a symptom.”
In context“In nineteenth-century clinical observations, frequent spitting was often recorded as a primary indicator of advanced respiratory distress.”
Teacher's tipThis noun sense is largely replaced by 'expectoration' in modern medicine or 'spit' in common speech.
Synonymsexpectoration