spoils

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪlz

Noun

spoils (plural only)

1. That which is taken from another by violence; especially, the plunder taken from an enemy; pillage; booty.

   "Gentle gales, Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils." —Milton.

2. Public offices and their benefits regarded as the peculiar property of a successful party or faction, to be bestowed for its own advantage; -- commonly in the plural; as

   to the victor belong the spoils

Translations

That which is taken from another by violence

• Dutch: plundering (nl),roofbuit (nl)
• French: pillage (fr) m,sac (fr) m

Public offices and their benefits regarded as the peculiar property of a successful party or faction.

• Dutch: het uitdelen van ambten aan partijgenoten (nl),vriendjespolitiek (nl)
• French: distribution de postes à des membres du parti (fr),favoritisme (fr) m

Verb

spoils

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of spoil.

   Milk spoils when left out too long.