What does "spat" mean?

The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.

What is a synonym for "spat"?

Common synonyms include: bicker, tiff, dissonance, acclaim, altercate, altercation.

//spæt// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Noun

1
The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs. countable, uncountable
"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."
2
A covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe. in-plural, often
3
A brief argument, falling out, quarrel.
"get into a trivial spat over punctuality"
4
A light blow with something flat.
5
An obsolete unit of distance in astronomy (symbol S), equal to one billion kilometres.

Show 6 more definitions

6
a young oyster or other bivalve wordnet
7
A juvenile shellfish which has attached to a hard surface. countable, uncountable
"Conditions in pearl oyster hatcheries are optimized for growth and survival of spat."
8
A piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car. Australia, UK
9
a cloth covering (a legging) that covers the instep and ankles wordnet
10
A drag-reducing aerodynamic fairing covering the upper portions of the tyres of an aeroplane equipped with non-retractable landing gear.
11
a quarrel about petty points wordnet

Verb

1
simple past and past participle of spit form-of, participle, past
"There was no sink in the room so we spat out the window."
2
To spawn, used of shellfish as above. ambitransitive
3
To quarrel or argue pettily briefly. intransitive
4
To strike with a spattering sound. intransitive, transitive
"He felt the wind of a second bullet that spatted against a boulder near Barney."
5
clap one's hands together wordnet

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6
To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together, as the hands. US, dialectal
"Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands."
7
spawn wordnet
8
engage in a brief and petty quarrel wordnet
9
clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval wordnet
10
strike with a sound like that of falling rain wordnet
11
become permanently attached wordnet
12
come down like raindrops wordnet