spat 1 (sp t)v. A past tense and a past participle of spit1. |
| spat 2 (spt) n. pl. spat or spats 1. An oyster or similar bivalve mollusk in the larval stage, especially when it settles to the bottom and begins to develop a shell. 2. The spawn of an oyster or a similar mollusk. intr.v. spat·ted, spat·ting, spats To spawn. Used of oysters and similar mollusks. [Middle English.] |
| spat 3 (spt) n. A cloth or leather gaiter covering the shoe upper and the ankle and fastening under the shoe with a strap: The waiter wore spats as part of his uniform. |
| spat 4 (spt) n. 1. A brief quarrel. 2. Informal A slap or smack. 3. A spattering sound, as of raindrops. v. spat·ted, spat·ting, spats v.intr. 1. To engage in a brief quarrel. 2. To strike with a light spattering sound; slap. v.tr. Informal To slap. [Origin unknown.] |
spat1
n
1. Now rare a slap or smack
2. a slight quarrel
vb spats, spatting, spatted
1. Now rare to slap (someone)
2. (intr) US, Canadian, and (rarely) NZ to have a slight quarrel
[probably imitative of the sound of quarrelling]
spat2
vb
a past tense and past participle of spit1
spat3
n
(Clothing & Fashion) another name for gaiter [2]
[short for spatterdash]
spat4
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a larval oyster or similar bivalve mollusc, esp when it settles to the sea bottom and starts to develop a shell
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) such oysters or other molluscs collectively
[from Anglo-Norman spat; perhaps related to spit1]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | spat - a quarrel about petty points |
| 2. |  spat - a cloth covering (a legging) that covers the instep and anklesleg covering, legging, leging - a garment covering the leg (usually extending from the knee to the ankle) | |
| 3. | spat - a young oyster or other bivalve Bivalvia, class Bivalvia, class Lamellibranchia, class Pelecypoda, Lamellibranchia - oysters; clams; scallops; mussels | |
| Verb | 1. | spat - come down like raindrops; "Bullets were spatting down on us" come down, precipitate, fall - fall from clouds; "rain, snow and sleet were falling"; "Vesuvius precipitated its fiery, destructive rage on Herculaneum" |
| 2. | spat - become permanently attached; "mollusks or oysters spat" attach - become attached; "The spider's thread attached to the window sill" | |
| 3. | spat - strike with a sound like that of falling rain; "Bullets were spatting the leaves" collide with, impinge on, hit, run into, strike - hit against; come into sudden contact with; "The car hit a tree"; "He struck the table with his elbow" | |
| 4. |  spat - clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approvalbravo - applaud with shouts of `bravo' or `brava' gesticulate, gesture, motion - show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his desire to leave" | |
| 5. | spat - engage in a brief and petty quarrel | |
| 6. | spat - spawn; "oysters spat" spawn - lay spawn; "The salmon swims upstream to spawn" | |
| 7. | spat - clap one's hands together; "The children were clapping to the music" gesticulate, gesture, motion - show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his desire to leave" |
spat
noun quarrel, dispute, squabble, controversy, contention, bickering, tiff, altercation, turf war (informal) a spat over interest rates and currencies
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