spat /spæt/noun 8verb 4forms 3 noun8 •A brief argument, falling out, quarrel.get into a trivial spat over punctualityhave a vicious spat with the cousins •[in the plural] A covering or decorative covering worn over a shoe. •The spawn of shellfish, especially oysters and similar molluscs.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. — 2005 •A juvenile shellfish which has attached to a hard surface.Conditions in pearl oyster hatcheries are optimized for growth and survival of spat. — 2011 •(UK, Australia) A piece of bodywork that covers the upper portions of the rear tyres of a car. •A drag-reducing aerodynamic fairing covering the upper portions of the tyres of an aeroplane equipped with non-retractable landing gear. •A light blow with something flat. •An obsolete unit of distance in astronomy (symbol S), equal to one billion kilometres. verb4 •To quarrel or argue pettily briefly. •To strike with a spattering sound.He felt the wind of a second bullet that spatted against a boulder near Barney. — 1922 •(dialect, US) To slap, as with the open hand; to clap together, as the hands.Little Isabel leaped up and down, spatting her hands. — 1845 •To spawn, used of shellfish as above. formsspatted · spatting · spats
