Spat

/spæt/ · verb

Meaning

simple past and past participle of spit.

Definitions by Sense

1. simple past and past participle of spit
2. The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.
3. A juvenile shellfish which has attached to a hard surface.
4. (ambitransitive) To spawn, used of shellfish as above.
5. (often in the plural) A covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe.
6. (automotive, UK, Australia) A piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car.
7. (aviation) A drag-reducing aerodynamic fairing covering the upper portions of the tyres of an aeroplane equipped with non-retractable landing gear.
8. A brief argument, falling out, quarrel.

Example Sentences

There was no sink in the room so we spat out the window.

If I had known you had a spittoon in the corner I would never have spat on the floor.

As spat-fall often occurs in areas away from environments suitable for oyster growing, the collection, transport and sale of oyster spat has developed into a separate industry.

But Orata’s oysters were, like the dormice and fish, collected in the wild, as spat.

Conditions in pearl oyster hatcheries are optimized for growth and survival of spat.

If the spat are allowed to remain attached to the tank bottom for more than two days, they are difficult to remove without damage to the shell.

get into a trivial spat over punctuality

have a vicious spat with the cousins

Synonyms for spat

Antonyms for spat

Related Words

Word Forms

• spats
• spatting
• spatted

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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