spoil

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to give someone, especially a child, everything they want in a way that harms their character.

v. to harm the character of a person, typically a child, by excessive indulgence or lack of discipline.

“The grandparents tend to spoil the children with too many sweets and toys.”

“Psychologists argue that parents who spoil their children by shielding them from every disappointment may hinder their emotional development.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to decay or become unfit to eat.

v. to undergo a process of decay or chemical change that makes food unpalatable or unsafe.

“The milk will spoil if you leave it out on the counter all night.”

“Without proper refrigeration, the entire shipment of fresh produce began to spoil within forty-eight hours of arrival.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. to tell someone the ending of a movie or book before they have seen it.

v. to prematurely disclose significant plot points or the conclusion of a narrative, thereby diminishing the experience for others.

“Please don't spoil the movie for me; I haven't seen the ending yet.”

“Social media users were warned not to spoil the series finale for those living in different time zones.”

C2 · Proficiency Science Technical

v. to reduce the lift of an airplane wing using a special part called a spoiler.

v. to intentionally reduce the lift generated by a wing by deflecting air upwards, typically during descent or landing.

“The pilot used the flaps to spoil the lift and slow the plane down.”

“By deploying the flight spoilers, the pilot was able to increase the rate of descent without significantly increasing the aircraft's airspeed.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to be very eager or impatient for something to happen.

v. to be extremely eager or impatient, typically used in the progressive form 'spoiling for'.

“After weeks of training, the young boxer was spoiling for a fight.”

“The opposition party had been spoiling for a debate on the new tax laws for several months.”

C1 · Advanced Plural noun Literary · Formal

n. goods or money taken by a winner after a war or a crime.

n. goods, property, or territory seized by a victor in a conflict or through illegal means.

“The soldiers divided the spoils of war among themselves after the battle.”

“The victors claimed the mineral rights of the occupied territory as part of the spoils of the campaign.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical

n. the earth and rocks that are dug up during building or mining.

n. waste material, such as earth or rock, produced during excavation, mining, or dredging operations.

“The construction crew moved the spoil to a different part of the site.”

“Environmental regulations required the mining company to contain the spoil in a way that prevented heavy metals from leaching into the groundwater.”