verb (used without object),spit or spat,spit·ting.
to eject saliva from the mouth; expectorate.
to express hatred, contempt, etc., by or as if by ejecting saliva from the mouth.
to sputter: grease spitting on the fire.
to fall in scattered drops or flakes, as rain or snow.
verb (used with object),spit or spat,spit·ting.
to eject from the mouth: The children were spitting watermelon seeds over the fence.
to throw out or emit like saliva: The kettle spits boiling water over the stove.
to set a flame to.
noun
saliva, especially when ejected.
the act of spitting.
Entomology.Also called spittle . the frothy secretion exuded by spittlebugs.
a light fall of rain or snow.
Verb Phrases
spit up,to vomit; throw up: The wounded soldier spat up blood. If you jostle the baby, she'll spit up.
Idioms for spit
spit and image, Informal. exact likeness; counterpart: Hunched over his desk, pen in hand, he was the spit and image of his father at work.Also spitting image,spit 'n' image.
Origin of spit
1
before 950; (v.) Middle English spitten,Old English spittan; cognate with German (dial.) spitzen to spit; akin to Old English spǣtan to spit, spātl spittle; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.
a pointed rod or bar for thrusting through and holding meat that is to be cooked before or over a fire.
any of various rods, pins, or the like used for particular purposes.
a narrow point of land projecting into the water.
a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore.
verb (used with object),spit·ted,spit·ting.
to pierce, stab, or transfix, as with a spit; impale on something sharp.
to thrust a spit into or through.
Origin of spit
2
before 1000; Middle English spite,Old English spitu; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German spit, spet,Old High German spiz spit; akin to Old Norse spīta peg