How do you use the word "spat" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "spat": He spat on the ground in disgust. They had a spat yesterday.

Spat Meaning

/spæt/

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbsimple past and past participle of spit

nounThe spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.

Sentence Examples

He spat on the ground in disgust.

They had a spat yesterday.

Tom spat on the ground in front of his boss.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

fuss

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

After hearing the insult, he ____ on the ground in anger as a sign of disrespect.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The two sisters had a minor ____ about who would get to use the new laptop first this evening.

Word Origin & History

From Old English spittan, spætan.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"As spat-fall often occurs in areas away from environments suitable for oyster growing, the collection, transport and sale of oyster spat has developed into a separate industry." — 2005, TVR Pillay, MN Kutty, Aquaculture: Principles and practices, page 525:

"But Orata’s oysters were, like the dormice and fish, collected in the wild, as spat." — 2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 243:

"Conditions in pearl oyster hatcheries are optimized for growth and survival of spat." — 2011, The Pearl Oyster, page 256:

"If the spat are allowed to remain attached to the tank bottom for more than two days, they are difficult to remove without damage to the shell." — 1988, Bivalve Mollusc Culture Research in Thailand, page 28:

"The downside of this cost-saving strategy was that the train service could only be covered by goodwill. Whenever there was a spat between ASLEF and management - regardless of cause - the withdrawal of this goodwill became a stick with which unions could beat management." — 2022 November 16, Graham Eccles, “The Rest Day Working saga...”, in RAIL, number 970, page 32:

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