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spoil

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The definition of spoil is to destroy something, to diminish the character of something, to overindulge someone, or to go bad and become unusable or inedible.

(verb)

An example of spoil is when you ruin someone's cake.
An example of spoil is when you prevent someone from having a good time.
An example of spoil is when you over indulge a child, especially to the point that the child's character is weakened and he becomes a brat.
An example of spoil is when food goes rotten.

See spoil in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb spoiled or Brit.spoilt, spoiling

to damage or injure in such a way as to make useless, valueless, etc.; destroy
to mar or impair the enjoyment, quality, or functioning of: rain spoiled the picnic
to overindulge so as to cause to demand or expect too much
Archaic
1. to strip (a person) of goods, money, etc. by force
2. to rob; pillage; plunder
3. to seize (goods) by force

Origin: ME spoilen < MFr espoillier < L spoliare, to plunder < spolium, arms taken from a defeated foe, plunder, orig., hide stripped from an animal < IE base *(s)p(h)el-, to split, tear off > spall, spill

intransitive verb

to be damaged or injured in such a way as to become useless, valueless, etc.; specif., to decay, as food
Archaic to pillage; plunder

noun

1. goods, territory, etc. taken by force in war; plunder; loot; booty
2. ☆ public offices to which the successful political party has the power of appointment
an object of plunder; prey
waste material removed in making excavations, etc.
Archaic the act of plundering; spoliation
Obsolete damage; impairment

Origin: ME spoile < MFr espoille < L spolia, pl.

Related Forms:

spoilable adjective

See spoil in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb spoiled spoiled or spoilt (spoilt), spoil·ing, spoils

verb, transitive

a. To impair the value or quality of.
b. To damage irreparably; ruin.
To impair the completeness, perfection, or unity of; flaw grievously: spoiled the party.
To do harm to the character, nature, or attitude of by oversolicitude, overindulgence, or excessive praise. See Synonyms at pamper.
Archaic
a. To plunder; despoil.
b. To take by force.

verb, intransitive

To become unfit for use or consumption, as from decay. Used especially of perishables, such as food. See Synonyms at decay.
To pillage.

noun

spoils
a. Goods or property seized from a victim after a conflict, especially after a military victory.
b. Incidental benefits reaped by a winner, especially political patronage enjoyed by a successful party or candidate.
An object of plunder; prey.
Refuse material removed from an excavation.
Archaic The act of plundering; spoliation.

Phrasal Verb: spoil for To be eager for: spoiling for a fight.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English spoilen, to plunder

Origin: , from Old French espoillier

Origin: , from Latin spoliāre

Origin: , from spolium, booty

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