spoil

verb (DESTROY)

/spɔɪl/ (spoiled or spoilt, spoiled or spoilt)

Definition

B1 [T] to destroy or reduce the pleasure, interest, or beauty of something: He tried not to let the bad news spoil his evening. The oil spill has spoiled the whole beautiful coastline. I haven't seen the film, so don't spoil it for me by telling me what happens. You'll spoil your appetite for dinner if you have a cake now.Damaging and spoilingDestroying and demolishing › [I or T] When food spoils or is spoiled, it is no longer good enough to eat: The dessert will spoil if you don't keep it in the fridge.Edible and inedibleDecaying and staying fresh › [T] UK specialized to mark a ballot paper so that it cannot be officially counted as a vote: Since she supported none of the candidates, she spoiled her ballot paper.ElectionsDamaging and spoilingDestroying and demolishing

(Definition of spoil verb (DESTROY) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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