spoiler
pronunciation
How to pronounce spoiler in British English:
UK [ˈspɔɪlə(r)]
How to pronounce spoiler in American English:
US [ˈspɔɪlɚ]
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- Noun:
- a candidate with no chance of winning but who may draw enough votes to prevent one of the leading candidates from winning
- someone who takes spoils or plunder (as in war)
- someone who pampers or spoils by excessive indulgence
- an airfoil mounted on the rear of a car to reduce lift at high speeds
- a hinged airfoil on the upper surface of an aircraft wing that is raised to reduce lift and increase drag
Word Origin
- spoiler (n.)
- 1530s, "one who robs or plunders," agent noun from spoil (v.). Meaning "one who mars another's chance at victory" is attested from 1950 in U.S. politics, perhaps from boxing. Aeronautics sense is from 1928, because the flap thwarts the "lift" on the plane; transferred to structures serving a similar purpose on speedboats (1957) and motor vehicles (1963). Meaning "information about the plot of a movie, etc., which might 'spoil' it for one who has not seen it" is attested by 1982.
Example
- 1. Unscrew fastening screws underneath the front spoiler .
- 2. Spoiler alert : we could already be in a recession .
- 3. China is the world 's climate bad guy and likely copenhagen spoiler .
- 4. For dealmakers , that means china 's commerce ministry can be as much of a spoiler as the ftc and the eu commission .
- 5. From america 's point of view , russia has become less of a spoiler and more co-operative in several areas of vital concern to america .