spat C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /spæt/ UK /spæt/ See IPA manual Minimal pairs Sounds like spot /æ/ vs /ɑ/ Meanings 1 noun a petty quarrel; to engage in a brief minor dispute The siblings had a spat over who would sit by the window. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a petty quarrel; to engage... quarrelsquabbletiffaltercationbickerdispute Etymology AI details Of uncertain origin, probably imitative, perhaps suggesting a brief slapping or spitting sound; first recorded in early 19th-century American English. Topics Actions & Processes External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # spat **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /spæt/ **IPA (UK):** /spæt/ ## Meanings 1. a petty quarrel; to engage in a brief minor dispute ## Examples - The siblings had a spat over who would sit by the window. ## Synonyms - quarrel - squabble - tiff - altercation - bicker - dispute ## Etymology Of uncertain origin, probably imitative, perhaps suggesting a brief slapping or spitting sound; first recorded in early 19th-century American English. ## AI Etymology Spat is of uncertain origin, probably imitative, perhaps suggesting a brief slapping or spitting sound; first recorded in early 19th-century American English. In present English it is used as a noun, "a petty quarrel; to engage in a brief minor dispute". The result is a noun and verb whose etymology preserves both the older form and the later English specialization. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown