English words starting with S

A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or similar material broken off from a larger piece.

broken into many sharp, thin pieces

breaking or causing something to break into small, sharp, thin pieces

consisting of or resembling splinters; apt to splinter.

To break or cause to break forcibly into parts, especially into halves or along the grain

A grip or hand position, especially in baseball pitching, where the index and middle fingers are spread apart on the ball.

A method for estimating the reliability of a test by dividing it into two halves and correlating the scores.

(of a building or room) having the floor level of one part about half a storey above or below the floor level of an adjoining part.

Made of or using wooden rails that have been split lengthwise, typically used for fences.

Describing a display on a television or computer monitor that is divided into two or more sections, each showing a different image or program.

happening in an extremely short amount of time; instantaneous

The ending of a relationship, partnership, or period of unity, especially a romantic relationship or the division of a company.

A person or thing that splits something.

(of a headache) very severe and sudden.

an irregularly shaped, often large, spot or smear of color or substance.

Covered with or consisting of large, irregular spots or marks.

To spend money freely or extravagantly.

to speak in a quick and confused way, making short soft spitting sounds, especially because you are angry or embarrassed

To diminish or destroy the value, quality, or pleasure of something; to make something less good or enjoyable.

The process of food or other perishable materials becoming unfit for use or consumption.

(of a person, especially a child) rude and badly behaved because they are given everything they want

a part of a vehicle, aircraft, etc. designed to improve its stability or control by disrupting the airflow.

(present participle) To diminish or destroy the value, quality, or pleasure of something; to make something less good or enjoyable.

Goods stolen or taken forcibly from a person or place, especially in wartime.

a person who spoils the pleasure of other people by being negative or refusing to join in an activity.

One of the thin bars or rods that connect the center of a wheel to its outer edge.

Having spokes (the rods connecting the centre of a wheel to its outer edge).

Expressed in speech; oral.

Relating to or consisting of poetry or other literary works that are performed aloud, typically with musical accompaniment, rather than being read silently.

a small woodworking plane with a handle on each side of its blade, used for shaping curved surfaces.

a person who speaks on behalf of a group or an organization

a person who speaks on behalf of a group or organization

a woman who speaks on behalf of a group or organization.

of, relating to, or consisting of spondees (metrical feet of two long or stressed syllables).

inflammation of the vertebrae.

A soft, light, porous substance that comes from the skeletons of sea creatures and is able to absorb water easily, often used for washing or cleaning.

having a soft, porous, and absorbent texture or quality similar to that of a sponge.

Having a porous structure resembling that of a sponge.

having a soft, light, and elastic texture full of holes, like a sponge.

a person or organization that pays for or contributes to the costs of an event or program in return for advertising

provided with financial or other support by a sponsor

Providing financial or other support for an event, activity, person, or organization, often for advertising purposes.

the act or fact of providing money for a project, event, person, or organization, often for advertising purposes.

the quality of being natural and not planned or forced

Happening or done in a natural, often sudden way, without any planning or without being forced.

in a way that is not planned or forced, but happens naturally and suddenly because of a person's feelings or immediate situation

A humorous imitation of something, especially a film or a particular genre of film, that exaggerates its main features.

A ghost or a frightening supernatural figure.

frightened or unnerved, especially suddenly

In a strange and frightening way, like a ghost.

Suggestive of or resembling a ghost; eerie and frightening.

a cylinder with a ridge at each end, around which thread, film, wire, etc., is wound

an object with a shallow bowl and a handle, used for eating, stirring, or serving food

a wading bird of the ibis family that has a long, flat bill with a spoon-shaped tip.

A mistake in speech in which the initial sounds or letters of two or more words are accidentally swapped, often with a humorous result.

the amount that a spoon can hold

the track or scent of an animal.

happening at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady

happening at irregular intervals; not continuously or regularly

a very small cell produced by some plants, fungi, and some other organisms, that can develop into a new individual.

the asexual and usually diploid phase in the life cycle of a plant or alga that produces spores.

An activity involving physical exertion and skill, governed by rules, and often undertaken competitively.

The activity of fishing for pleasure or competition, rather than for commercial purposes.

Connected with or involving sports or games.

designed for, relating to, or suitable for a particular sport or sporting activity

A type of vehicle, typically a four-wheel drive, designed for both on-road and off-road use and offering a combination of passenger and cargo space.

A boat designed and equipped for recreational fishing, especially for large game fish.

connected with or interested in sports

Equipment, clothes, and other items used for playing sports and other recreational activities.

playful or lively

A low-built, high-powered car designed for high speeds and responsive handling.

A branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise.

Connected with or involving sports or athletics.

Conversation or discussion about sports, especially as a formal or informal media genre.

A radio or television broadcast of a sports event or sports news.

a person who describes and comments on sporting events on radio or television

a man who takes part in sports, especially as a professional.

behaving in a fair, generous, and polite way, especially in a sports competition.

Fair, generous, and polite behavior, especially when playing a sport or game.

clothing designed for wearing while playing sports or for casual use.

a woman who takes part in sports, especially professionally or competitively.

a journalist who writes about sports, especially for a newspaper or magazine

(of a person) liking or good at sport or outdoor activities.

a small, usually round, mark on a surface that is a different color from the rest

completely clean, without any marks or dirt.

in an extremely clean way

A powerful lamp that produces a bright, focused beam of light, used especially to illuminate a particular person or area on a stage or in a studio.

To direct a spotlight on someone or something; to illuminate with a spotlight.

Illuminated with a spotlight.

Marked with spots.

A medium-sized North American owl (Strix occidentalis) with dark brown plumage marked with white spots.

a person who looks for and identifies a particular type of thing, such as birds, trains, or enemy aircraft.

having spots or marks

relating to marriage or to a husband or wife

a husband or wife, considered in relation to their partner.

to send out a liquid, or flames, air, etc., or to be sent out from something in a fast stream

to injure a joint in your body by suddenly twisting it

(of a joint, especially an ankle or wrist) injured by a sudden, violent twisting or wrenching of its ligaments

To sit, lie, or fall with one's arms and legs spread out in a relaxed or awkward way.

to lie or sit with your arms and legs spread out in a relaxed or awkward way

Spreading out over a large area in an untidy or irregular way.

to force liquid out of a container in a stream of very small drops

Describing something that has been painted using a spray can or spray gun.

The act or technique of applying paint using a spray gun or aerosol can.

(past tense and past participle of spray) To scatter or force liquid in small drops over an area.

a device used for spraying a liquid, such as water, paint, or insecticide.

(used with object). to scatter or disperse (a liquid, powder, etc.) in fine particles or droplets.

to open, arrange, or place something over a larger area

(of a person) lying or standing with arms and legs stretched out wide

Lying with arms and legs stretched out wide

(of a soft food) easy to spread with a knife

A device or tool used to distribute something over a surface or area.

(present participle of spread) To open, arrange, or place something over a larger area.

a computer program, or a page produced by this program, that shows information in rows and columns and is used for calculating and organizing data

a short period of time in which you do a lot of one activity, especially spending money or drinking alcohol

a small, thin shoot or twig of a plant or tree, typically with leaves or flowers attached.

lively and full of energy; brisk.

to move suddenly and quickly in a single movement, especially by jumping

(of a plant) flowering in the spring season.

A short holiday for students in the spring, especially at universities and schools.