verb
spoil
spoyl
verb
1
To ruin something, making it unusable, unpleasant, or less enjoyable.
"The rain spoiled our picnic plans."
"Don't spoil the ending — I haven't seen the movie yet."
2
To indulge someone, especially a child, so much that it damages their character.
"The grandparents spoil the kids rotten every visit."
3
(of food) To go bad.
"The milk will spoil if you leave it out overnight."
noun
1
Plunder or loot taken by force, often in the phrase "the spoils of war."
"The victorious army divided the spoils among its soldiers."
How to Use Spoil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo ruin something, over-indulge someone, or (of food) go bad; as a noun, plunder taken by force.
Common pairings
spoil the fun
spoil a child
spoils of war
Word Forms
spoiled past tense, spoilt past tense, spoils plural, spoils singular
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Etymology
From Middle English spoilen, borrowed from Old French espoillier, from Latin spoliāre, "to strip, plunder," related to spolium, "plunder."