The AI-powered English dictionary
simple past and past participle of spit examples
countable and uncountable, plural spats
The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs. quotations examples
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.
2005, TVR Pillay, MN Kutty, Aquaculture: Principles and practices, page 525
But Orata’s oysters were, like the dormice and fish, collected in the wild, as spat.
2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 243
A juvenile shellfish which has attached to a hard surface. quotations examples
Conditions in pearl oyster hatcheries are optimized for growth and survival of spat.
2011, The Pearl Oyster, page 256
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.
1988, Bivalve Mollusc Culture Research in Thailand, page 28
third-person singular simple present spats, present participle spatting, simple past and past participle spatted
(transitive, intransitive) To spawn. Used of shellfish as above. examples
plural spats
(often in the plural) A covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe. examples
(automotive, UK, Australia) A piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car. examples
(aviation) A drag-reducing aerodynamic fairing covering the upper portions of the tyres of an aeroplane equipped with non-retractable landing gear. examples
A brief argument, falling out, quarrel. quotations examples
2017 January 14, “Some Thais worry that a lasting power struggle is brewing. Others see a minor spat over language, which will quickly be forgotten.”, in The Economist
The downside of this cost-saving strategy was that the train service could only be covered by goodwill. Whenever there was a spat between ASLEF and management - regardless of cause - the withdrawal of this goodwill became a stick with which unions could beat management.
2022 November 16, Graham Eccles, “The Rest Day Working saga...”, in RAIL, number 970, page 32
To quarrel or argue briefly. examples
A light blow with something flat. examples
(transitive and intransitive) To strike with a spattering sound. quotations examples
He felt the wind of a second bullet that spatted against a boulder near Barney.
1922, B. M. Bower, chapter 3, in The Trail of the White Mule
"She mentioned she had spatted Kelsey on her diaper with a hairbrush," said Mildred Johnson, a co-worker.
2007 July 13, Nolan Clay, “Co-workers testify about Kelsey's mother”, in Daily Oklahoman, retrieved 25 Aug. 2009
(US, dialect) To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together, as the hands. quotations examples
Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands.
1845, Sylvester Judd, Margaret
An obsolete unit of distance in astronomy (symbol S), equal to one billion kilometres. examples