■ noun
1》 a projecting tube or lip through or over which liquid can be poured from a container.
2》 a stream of liquid issuing with great force.
3》 a pipe, trough, or chute for conveying liquid, grain, etc.
↘ historical a lift in a pawnshop used to convey pawned items up for storage.
■ verb
1》 send out or issue forcibly in a stream.
2》 express (one's views) in a lengthy or declamatory way.
Phrases
up the ~ Brit. informal
1》 useless, ruined, or wasted.
2》 (of a woman) pregnant.
3》 (of a bullet or cartridge) in the barrel of a gun and ready to be fired.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~er noun
~less adjective
Origin
ME: from MDu. ~en , from an imitative base shared by ON spýta 'to spit'.