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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | espoillier, from Latin spoliare 'to strip, rob', from spolium; SPOILS |
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Related topics: Votingspoil1
past tense and past participle spoiled also spoilt British English
past tense and past participle spoiled also spoilt British English1 to have a bad effect on something so that it is no longer attractive, enjoyable, useful etc [= ruin]: The whole park is spoiled by litter. We didn't let the incident spoil our day. I don't want to spoil your fun.
damage
[transitive]The whole park is spoiled by litter.We didn't let the incident spoil our day.I don't want to spoil your fun.➔ spoil/ruin your appetite
at appetite (1) ➔ see usage note destroy2 to give a child everything they want, or let them do whatever they want, often with the result that they behave badly : She's an only child, but they didn't really spoil her.
treat too kindly
[transitive]She's an only child, but they didn't really spoil her.3 to look after someone in a way that is very kind or too kind : You'll have to let me spoil you on your birthday.
treat kindly
[transitive]You'll have to let me spoil you on your birthday.4 to start to decay : Food will spoil if the temperature in your freezer rises above 8ºC.
decay
[intransitive]Food will spoil if the temperature in your freezer rises above 8ºC.5 to mark a ballot paper wrongly so that your vote is not included
voting
[transitive] British EnglishPPVWORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
destroy, ruin, spoilDestroy means to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or people can no longer use it • The earthquake destroyed even the tallest buildings. • The rainforests are being destroyed at a frightening rate.If you ruin or spoil something, it still exists, but it has lost all its good qualities or features. Ruin is stronger than spoil • The rain ruined my hair. • I don't want to spoil your day. ➔ See also destroy
WORD CHOICE: destroy, ruin, spoilDestroy means to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or people can no longer use it • The earthquake destroyed even the tallest buildings. • The rainforests are being destroyed at a frightening rate.If you ruin or spoil something, it still exists, but it has lost all its good qualities or features. Ruin is stronger than spoil • The rain ruined my hair. • I don't want to spoil your day. ➔ See also destroy
