spitting
part of speech
verb (-ing form of spit: spit, spits, spat/spit, spitting); noun (spitting — uncountable); adjective (spitting)
meaning for a pupil
1) Forcing saliva (spit) or food out of your mouth. tree →
2) (of rain, UK and Ireland) Raining very lightly: "It's only spitting." tree →
3) Making small hot bursts or sparks, like fat in a pan or a fire. tree →
4) (of an animal) Hissing angrily, like a cat. tree →
5) In "spitting image": looking exactly like someone. tree →
6) In "spitting distance": very close. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In Isaiah, being spat on is a sign of shame and insult, which the prophet's servant bears without turning away. Interpretation: Tradition often reads this speaker as the prophet or as Israel itself, suffering insults patiently while trusting that God will help. In the primary lessons: In everyday and school rules spitting at people is rude and unhygienic, and spitting on the ground is often against the rules. Weather talk in the UK, Ireland and Australia uses "it's spitting" for a few drops. "Spitting mad" or "spitting feathers" means very angry. In stories a spitting fire or spitting cat sets an angry or lively mood.
examples
- I gave my back to the smiters, and my checks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. (Prophets ISA.50.6, JPS 1917) tree →
- Spitting at someone is very rude. tree →
- It's just spitting, so we can still go to the park. tree →
- The sausages were spitting in the hot pan. tree →
- The angry cat was spitting and hissing. tree →
- You're the spitting image of your mum! tree →
- The beach is within spitting distance of our hotel. tree →
- The coach was spitting mad after the match. tree →
- Brush your teeth, then finish by spitting into the sink. tree →
- From that time forward the Smith gave up spitting at the Demon and striking him with his hammer. tree →
note
Double t: spit → spitting. Past: spat (UK) or spit (US). "Spitting image" is a fixed phrase meaning an exact look-alike. Spitting near others spreads germs; a cobra called the spitting cobra really does spray venom.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «spitting» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.