spitting

UK: /ˈspɪtɪŋ/

From the verb spit: (⇒ conjugate)

spitting is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spit¹ /spɪt/   v., spit or spat/spæt/  spit•ting, n. 
v. 

1. Physiology to expel saliva from the mouth:
   [no object; (~ + at + object)] He cleared his throat and spat loudly; kids spitting at each other.
2. to expel (something) from the mouth:
   [~ + object] to spit watermelon seeds.
3. to sputter:
   [no object] The grease was spitting in the fire.
4. spit up, to vomit;
   throw up: [no object]
   The baby was spitting up.
   [~ + up + object]
   The wounded soldier spat up some blood.

n. [uncountable]

5. Physiology saliva.
6. Insects the act of spitting.

Idioms

7. Idioms, Informal Terms spit and image, [uncountable] exact likeness;
   counterpart. Also, spit•ting im•age /ˈspɪtɪŋ ˈɪmədʒ/ .

spit² /spɪt/   n. [countable]

1. a pointed rod for piercing and holding meat over a fire.
2. a narrow point of land sticking out into the water.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spit¹  (spit), v., spit or spat, spit•ting, n. 
v.i. 

1. Physiology to eject saliva from the mouth;
   expectorate.
2. to express hatred, contempt, etc., by or as if by ejecting saliva from the mouth.
3. to sputter:
   grease spitting on the fire.
4. to fall in scattered drops or flakes, as rain or snow.

v.t. 

5. to eject from the mouth:
   The children were spitting watermelon seeds over the fence.
6. to throw out or emit like saliva:
   The kettle spits boiling water over the stove.
7. to set a flame to.
8. spit up, to vomit;
   throw up:
   The wounded soldier spat up blood. If you jostle the baby, she'll spit up.

n. 

9. Physiology saliva, esp. when ejected.
10. the act of spitting.
11. Insects [Entomol.] spittle.
12. Meteorology a light fall of rain or snow.
13. Informal Terms spit and image. Also, spitting image, spit 'n' image. exact likeness;
    counterpart:
    Hunched over his desk, pen in hand, he was the spit and image of his father at work.

• bef. 950; (verb, verbal) Middle English spitten, Old English spittan; cognate with German (dialect, dialectal) spitzen to spit; akin to Old English spǣtan to spit, spātl spittle; (noun, nominal) Middle English, derivative of the verb, verbal

spit′like′, adj. 
Synonyms

• 3. spatter.

spit²  (spit), n., v., spit•ted, spit•ting. 
n. 

1. a pointed rod or bar for thrusting through and holding meat that is to be cooked before or over a fire.
2. any of various rods, pins, or the like used for particular purposes.
3. a narrow point of land projecting into the water.
4. a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore.

v.t. 

5. to pierce, stab, or transfix, as with a spit;
   impale on something sharp.
6. to thrust a spit into or through.

• bef. 1000; Middle English spite, Old English spitu; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German spit, spet, Old High German spiz spit; akin to Old Norse spīta peg

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spit / spɪt/ verb (spits, spitting, spat, spit)

1. (intransitive) to expel saliva from the mouth; expectorate
2. (intransitive) to show disdain or hatred by spitting
3. (of a fire, hot fat, etc) to eject (fragments of coal, sparks, etc) violently and with an explosive sound; splutter
4. (intransitive) to rain very lightly
5. (transitive) often followed by out: to eject or discharge (something) from the mouth: he spat the food out, to spit blood
6. (transitive) often followed by out: to utter (short sharp words or syllables), esp in a violent manner
7. spit it out! ⇒ a command given to someone that he or she should speak forthwith
8. spit nails ⇒ to be extremely angry

noun

1. another name for spittle
2. a light or brief fall of rain, snow, etc
3. the act or an instance of spitting
4. 
   another word for spitting image

Etymology: Old English spittan; related to spǣtan to spit, German dialect spitzen

ˈspitter noun

spit / spɪt/ noun

1. a pointed rod on which meat is skewered and roasted before or over an open fire
2. Also called: rotisserie, rotating spit a similar device rotated by electricity or clockwork, fitted onto a cooker
3. an elongated often hooked strip of sand or shingle projecting from the shore, deposited by longshore drift, and usually above water

verb (spits, spitting, spitted)

1. (transitive) to impale on or transfix with or as if with a spit

Etymology: Old English spitu; related to Old High German spiz spit, Norwegian spit tip