spoil

Universal Words verb, noun verb (spoiled, spoiled ) 1 [VN] to change sth good into sth bad, unpleasant, useless, etc. SYNRUIN: Our camping trip was spoilt by bad weather. * Don't let him spoil your evening. * The tall buildings have spoiled the view. * Don't eat too many nuts-you'll spoil your appetite (= will no longer be hungry at mealtime). * (BrE) spoiled ballot papers (= not valid because not correctly marked) * I won't tell you what happens in the last chapter-I don't want to spoil it for you. 2 [VN] to give a child everything that they ask for and not enough discipline in a way that has a bad effect on their character and behaviour: She spoils those kids of hers. 3 [VN] ~ sb / yourself to make sb/yourself happy by doing sth special: Why not spoil yourself with a weekend in a top hotel? * He really spoiled me on my birthday. 4 [V] (of food) to become bad so that it can no longer be eaten IDIOMS be spoiling for a fight to want to fight with sb very much moreatCOOKn. noun 1 (the spoils) [pl.] (formal or literary) goods stolen from a place by thieves or by an army that has won a battle or war: the spoils of war / conquest * The robbers divided up the spoils. 2 (spoils) [pl.] the profits or advantages that sb gets from being successful: the spoils of high office * The two teams shared the spoils with a 11 result. 3 [U] (technical) waste material that is brought up when a hole is dug, etc.