spit

Pronunciation: /spɪt/ (IPA), spit (American)

Origin: Old English spittan, from Proto-Germanic spītanan

Part of Speech: verb, noun

Meanings:

1. (verb) To forcefully eject saliva or other substance from the mouth
2. (verb) To utter words in a harsh or aggressive manner
3. (noun) Saliva or other substance ejected from the mouth
4. (noun) A thin metal rod used for roasting meat over a fire

Example Sentences:

1. The llama was known to spit at visitors who got too close.
2. He spat out the words with venom, clearly upset by the accusation.
3. The chef turned the spit to ensure the meat cooked evenly.

Related Words:

• Forms: spits, spitting, spat (past tense and past participle)
• Synonyms: expectorate, gob (informal), expel, eject

Memorization Trick:

Think of the phrase "Spit It Out!" which is often used to encourage someone to speak. This ties into both the literal meaning of ejecting saliva and the figurative meaning of uttering words forcefully.