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2 : to write or print in letters and in full

Synonyms

clarify, clear, construe, demonstrate, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, illuminate, illustrate, interpret—more at EXPLAIN

spelt chiefly British past and past participle of 1SPELL

spe·lunk·er noun [ORIGIN: L spelunca cave, fr. Gk spēlynx]

: one who makes a hobby of exploring caves

— spe·lunk·ing noun

spend verb spent ; spend·ing 1 : to pay out : EXPEND

2 : to consume entirely : WEAR OUT, EXHAUST; also : to consume wastefully

3 : to cause or permit to elapse : PASS

Synonyms

disburse, expend, give, lay out, pay; also lavish, rain; blow; squander, waste

spend·er noun : one that spends money; especially : one that spends lavishly

spend·thrift noun : one who spends wastefully or recklessly

Synonyms

prodigal, profligate, wastrel—more at PRODIGAL

spent adjective : drained of energy

Synonyms

beat, bushed, dead, drained, effete, jaded, limp, prostrate, tired, weary, worn-out—more at WEARY

sperm noun, plural sperm or sperms 1 : SEMEN

2 : a male gamete

sper·ma·to·zo·on noun, plural -zoa : a motile male gamete of an animal usu. with a rounded or elongated head and a long posterior flagellum

sperm cell noun : SPERM 2

sper·mi·cide noun : a preparation or substance used to kill sperm

— sper·mi·cid·al adjective

sperm whale noun : a large whale with a massive square-shaped head containing a fluid-filled cavity

spew verb 1 : VOMIT

2 : to come in a flood or gush; also : emit or eject with vigor or violence

Synonyms

gush, jet, pour, rush, spout, spurt, squirt—more at GUSH

belch, disgorge, eject, erupt, expel—more at ERUPT

SPF abbreviation sun protection factor

sp gr abbreviation specific gravity

sphag·num noun : any of a genus of atypical mosses that grow in wet acid areas where their remains become compacted with other plant debris to form peat; also : a mass of these mosses

sphere noun [ORIGIN: ME spere globe, celestial sphere, fr. AF espere, fr. L sphaera, fr. Gk sphaira, lit., ball]

1 : a globe-shaped body : BALL

2 : a celestial body

3 : a solid figure so shaped that every point on its surface is an equal distance from the center

4 : range of action or influence

— spher·i·cal adjective

— spher·i·cal·ly adverb

Synonyms

[1] ball, orb—more at BALL

[4] area, arena, demesne, department, discipline, domain, field, line, province, realm, specialty—more at FIELD

spher·oid noun : a figure similar to a sphere but not perfectly round

— sphe·roi·dal adjective

sphinc·ter noun : a muscular ring that closes a bodily opening

sphinx noun, plural sphinx·es or sphin·ges 1 : a winged monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body and noted for killing anyone unable to answer its riddle

2 : an enigmatic or mysterious person

3 : an ancient Egyptian image having the body of a lion and the head of a man, ram, or hawk

1spice noun 1 : any of various aromatic plant products (as pepper or nutmeg) used to season or flavor foods

2 : something that adds interest and relish

3 : a pungent or fragrant odor

Synonyms

[1] flavor, seasoning—more at SEASONING

[3] aroma, bouquet, fragrance, incense, perfume, redolence, scent—more at FRAGRANCE

2spice verb spiced; spic·ing : to season with spices

Synonyms

flavor, savor, season—more at SEASON

spick–and–span or spic–and–span adjective 1 : quite new

2 : spotlessly clean

Synonyms

[1] brand-new, new, unused—more at NEW

[2] clean, immaculate, spotless, stainless, unsoiled, unsullied—more at CLEAN

spic·ule noun : a slender pointed body esp. of calcium or silica

spicy adjective 1 : having the quality, flavor, or fragrance of spice

2 : verging on impropriety or indecency; also : somewhat scandalous or salacious

Synonyms

bawdy, lewd, racy, ribald, suggestive

spi·der noun 1 : any of an order of arachnids that have a 2-part body, eight legs, and two or more pairs of abdominal organs for spinning threads of silk used esp. in making