spat
spat — noun
- spatsingular
- spatsplural
1. a brief disagreement between two or more people about a small matter that does n
a brief disagreement between two or more people about a small matter that does not last very long
A spat over parking spaces broke out between the neighbours on Sunday morning.
collocation: spat over [topic]
Tomás and his sister had a brief spat over who should wash the dishes.
What started as a friendly debate turned into a silly spat about movie trivia.
The couple's public spat at the restaurant embarrassed the guests at the next table.
After a spat with the cashier about the change, Selim apologized for raising his voice.
- quarrel
a more general and slightly more serious disagreement; 'spat' suggests something shorter and less significant
- squabble
similar in meaning to 'spat' but often used for repeated or childish arguments
- tiff
an even milder, more playful disagreement, usually between people who are close
- argument
a broader term that can refer to any verbal disagreement, from minor to serious
2. a fabric or leather cover that fits over the ankle and the upper part of a shoe,
a fabric or leather cover that fits over the ankle and the upper part of a shoe, fastened at the side with buttons — worn mainly by men in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
The antique shop had a dusty pair of white spats owned by a 1920s banker.
usually plural: a pair of spats
In period dramas, characters who wear spats are usually set in the early 1900s.
Élise found her grandfather's old spats still buttoned to his formal shoes in the wardrobe.
A gentleman's outfit from that era was incomplete without a top hat and white spats.
- gaiters
a similar leg covering that extends higher up the leg than spats
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'spats'. This item of clothing is now very uncommon in everyday wear and appears mostly in historical contexts, vintage fashion, or period films.
3. a very young shellfish with two hinged shells, especially an oyster that has rec
a very young shellfish with two hinged shells, especially an oyster that has recently settled on a surface and begun to grow
The shellfish farmer collected young spats from the oyster beds near the coast.
domain: shellfish farming
Each spat attaches to a shell or rope and becomes an oyster in two years.
Researchers counted the spats on each underwater tile to measure breeding success.
An adult oyster releases millions of eggs, but only a few survive to become spats.
用法筆記
A technical term used in aquaculture and marine biology. Outside these fields, most English speakers do not recognise this meaning.
spat — verb
- spatpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spats3rd person singular
- spatting-ing form
- spattedpast simple
1. past tense and past participle form of the verb spit¹, meaning to force liquid o
past tense and past participle form of the verb spit¹, meaning to force liquid or food out from the mouth, or to make a sound like this
The cat spat at the dog when it came too close to her newborn kittens.
pattern: spat at [person/animal]
Minho spat out the sour medicine and reached for a glass of water.
pattern: spat out [object]
Rain spat against the windows as Ari closed the curtains for the night.
Kabir spat the words with such anger that nobody dared to ask another question.
The child had spat her food onto the plate because it tasted too salty.
文法句型
spat + [object]
spat + out + [object]
spat + at + [person/animal]
用法筆記
This is not a separate meaning but the past form of 'spit'. 'Spat' is used for both the simple past ('He spat on the ground') and the past participle ('He has spat on the ground'). In American English, 'spit' as the past form is also accepted but considered less formal.
常見錯誤
2. to argue briefly with someone about a matter that is not important, without the
to argue briefly with someone about a matter that is not important, without the disagreement lasting long
The two politicians spat at each other during the live television debate over education funding.
pattern: spat with [person] over [topic]
Siblings often spat over small things and then make up again within minutes.
Henry spat with his colleague about who should present the team's research at the conference.
Neighbours have been spatting over the fence between their gardens for several weeks.
Meera and Yael spat briefly about the restaurant bill, then paid half each.
文法句型
spat + with [person] + about [topic]
spat + over [topic]
用法筆記
Used when you want to suggest that the argument was short and not deeply serious. The noun form 'spat' (sense 1) is far more common than this verb. In everyday conversation, people rarely use the progressive form 'spatting'.
常見錯誤
3. to hit against a surface in a way that produces a quick, light tapping noise sim
to hit against a surface in a way that produces a quick, light tapping noise similar to the sound of heavy raindrops falling
The first drops of rain spat against the dusty windowpane of the old farmhouse.
pattern: spat against [surface]
Jisoo heard gravel spat against the car as the tyres spun on the loose gravel.
Hailstones spat across the metal roof of the shed during the storm.
Hot oil spat from the pan as the cook dropped in the fish fillets.
文法句型
spat + against [surface]
spat + [object]
用法筆記
This is a rare and literary sense, most often used in descriptive or poetic writing to convey the sound and movement of small particles (rain, gravel, oil drops) hitting a surface. Not used in everyday conversation.