To spill meaning in English
Learn how to use To spill correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to spill: to pour (a liquid) accidentally, to tip over, to overturn
I spilled some wine on my dress last night and now there is a big red stain.
Examples
- "She lights lavender-scented candle and spills herbal tea on table."
- "I did spill some coffee on my slacks, but I think I saved the receipt (for the coffee and the pants) so I can seek proper remuneration."
Exercise 1
Kevin writes that he "spilled some coffee on his slacks". What does this mean?
Kevin writes that he "spilled some coffee on his slacks". What does this mean?
This explanation does not express what Kevin writes.
This is the best choice. "To spill" has many meanings, but in this case it means to drop the contents of a container. A pair of "slacks" is a formal pair of pants.
"To spill" should not be confused the verb "to spell". Kevin's sentence has nothing to do with "spelling".
Although the idiom "to take a spill" means "to fall down" or "to slip", this sentence actually refers to Kevin dropping his cup of coffee on his pants.
Exercise 2
Match each verb to the appropriate term. Each verb is used once.
--> a door
--> a table
--> a phone number
--> a cup of coffee
--> a fire
--> a door
--> a table
--> a phone number
--> a cup of coffee
--> a fire
Match each verb to the appropriate term. Each verb is used once.
to lock 1 --> a door
to wipe 2 --> a table
to dial 3 --> a phone number
to spill 4 --> a cup of coffee
to light 5 --> a fire
to lock 1 --> a door
to wipe 2 --> a table
to dial 3 --> a phone number
to spill 4 --> a cup of coffee
to light 5 --> a fire
1 to lock: This is the correct answer. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key. A "lock" is a device which is opened with a key, for example: I used a lock to secure my bicycle to a road sign.
1 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. If a door is dirty, it can be wiped with a cloth, but this isn't very common.
1 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
1 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
1 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn. Although a door can be "lit", it's not very common, unless you are a pyromaniac.
2 to wipe: This is the correct answer. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth. Note: "to wipe (data)" is to erase or cancel data. For example: The aliens wiped my memory, I don't remember a thing.
2 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
2 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
2 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn. Although a table can be "lit", it's not very common, unless you are a pyromaniac.
2 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key. A table might be locked if it has drawers.
3 to dial: This is the correct answer. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call. The noun "dial" refers to the disk on older telephones which was rotated in order to register the 10 numbers.
3 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
3 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn. Although a phone number can be "lit", it's not very common, unless you are a pyromaniac.
3 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth.
3 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key.
4 to spill: This is the correct answer. "To spill (a cup of coffee)" is to drop or overturn the contents, often accidentally. Example: I spilled a glass of red wine on my white dress.
4 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
4 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn.
4 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth. If a cup of coffee is dirty, it can be wiped with a cloth, but this isn't very common.
4 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key.
5 to light: This is the correct choice. "To light (a fire)" is to ignite a fire, using a match or a lighter. Example: I will go to the church and light a candle for you. Note that "to light" is irregular: light / lit / have lit.
5 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
5 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
5 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth.
5 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key.
Exercise 3
Match each verb to the appropriate term. Each verb is used once.
--> a door
--> a table
--> a phone number
--> a cup of coffee
--> a fire
--> a door
--> a table
--> a phone number
--> a cup of coffee
--> a fire
Match each verb to the appropriate term. Each verb is used once.
to lock 1 --> a door
to wipe 2 --> a table
to dial 3 --> a phone number
to spill 4 --> a cup of coffee
to light 5 --> a fire
to lock 1 --> a door
to wipe 2 --> a table
to dial 3 --> a phone number
to spill 4 --> a cup of coffee
to light 5 --> a fire
1 to lock: This is the correct answer. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key. A "lock" is a device which is opened with a key, for example: I used a lock to secure my bicycle to a road sign.
1 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. If a door is dirty, it can be wiped with a cloth, but this isn't very common.
1 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
1 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
1 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn. Although a door can be "lit", it's not very common, unless you are a pyromaniac.
2 to wipe: This is the correct answer. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth. Note: "to wipe (data)" is to erase or cancel data. For example: The aliens wiped my memory, I don't remember a thing.
2 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
2 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
2 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn. Although a table can be "lit", it's not very common, unless you are a pyromaniac.
2 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key. A table might be locked if it has drawers.
3 to dial: This is the correct answer. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call. The noun "dial" refers to the disk on older telephones which was rotated in order to register the 10 numbers.
3 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
3 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn. Although a phone number can be "lit", it's not very common, unless you are a pyromaniac.
3 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth.
3 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key.
4 to spill: This is the correct answer. "To spill (a cup of coffee)" is to drop or overturn the contents, often accidentally. Example: I spilled a glass of red wine on my white dress.
4 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
4 to light: "To light" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To light (a piece of paper)" is to set fire to it, or to cause it to burn.
4 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth. If a cup of coffee is dirty, it can be wiped with a cloth, but this isn't very common.
4 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key.
5 to light: This is the correct choice. "To light (a fire)" is to ignite a fire, using a match or a lighter. Example: I will go to the church and light a candle for you. Note that "to light" is irregular: light / lit / have lit.
5 to dial: "To dial" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To dial (a phone number)" is to enter the number on a phone, or to make a call.
5 to spill: "To spill" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To spill (a glass of water)" is to drop or "overturn" the glass, often accidentally.
5 to wipe: "To wipe" is not the appropriate verb to use here. To "wipe (a table)" is to clean it or dry it, usually using a towel or cloth.
5 to lock: "To lock" is not the appropriate verb to use here. "To lock (a door)" is to secure it with a key.
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