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# spat

verb form (past of spit: spit, spits, spat/spit, spitting); noun (a spat, spats)

«spat» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Spat is the past form of «spit»: to force liquid, food or saliva out of your mouth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#m1)
2. A spat is a short, small argument or quarrel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#m2)
3. Spats (old-fashioned) are cloth covers worn over the top of shoes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#m3)

### In the lessons

In manners and hygiene lessons spitting is rude and spreads germs. In stories a character «spat out» angry words. In everyday life children have small spats with friends that are soon over. Phrases: «spat it out», «spat at», «a spat with a friend».

### Examples

- He spat out the sour sweet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#x1)
- The llama spat at the visitor! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#x2)
- The cat hissed and spat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#x3)
- «Go away!» she spat angrily. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#x4)
- My sister and I had a spat over the TV remote. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#x5)
- The fire spat sparks onto the rug. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#x6)
- In revenge the Serpent spat some of his poison into the man's drinking-horn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/#x7)

### Note

Past of «spit»: «spat» (UK and US) or «spit» (also in the US). Spitting at people is very rude and can spread illness. «Spitting image» means looking exactly alike.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «spat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spat/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«spat» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spat.html) on Mova free.