- to damage severely or harm (something), especially with reference to its excellence, value, usefulness, etc.: The water stain spoiled the painting.Drought spoiled the corn crop.
- to diminish or impair the quality of; affect detrimentally: Bad weather spoiled their vacation.
- to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence, etc.: to spoil a child by pampering him.
- to strip (persons, places, etc.) of goods, valuables, etc.; plunder; pillage; despoil.
- to take or seize by force.
- to become bad, or unfit for use, as food or other perishable substances; become tainted or putrid: Milk spoils if not refrigerated.
- to plunder, pillage, or rob.
- booty, loot, or plunder taken in war or robbery.
- the act of plundering.
- an object of plundering.
- Usually spoils.
- the emoluments and advantages of public office viewed as won by a victorious political party: the spoils of office.
- prizes won or treasures accumulated: a child's spoils brought home from a party.
- waste material, as that which is cast up in mining, excavating, quarrying, etc.
- an imperfectly made object, damaged during the manufacturing process.
- to be very eager for; be desirous of: It was obvious that he was spoiling for a fight.
- to cause damage to (something), in regard to its value, beauty, usefulness, etc
- to weaken the character of (a child) by complying unrestrainedly with its desires
- (of perishable substances) to become unfit for consumption or use
- to disrupt the play or style of an opponent, as to prevent him from settling into a rhythm
- to strip (a person or place) of (property or goods) by force or violence
- to have an aggressive desire for (a fight, etc)
- waste material thrown up by an excavation
- any treasure accumulated by a person
- obsolete
- the act of plundering
- a strategically placed building, city, etc, captured as plunder
