spall
To break into fragments or small piecesTo break into fragments or small pieces.
Meaning
3 senses(ambitransitive)To break into fragments or small pieces.
(especially)To undergo weathering, aging, or other wear that involves the crumbling of the substrate.
When the bearing race spalled under high load, it led to the failure of the bearing.
Once the concrete had spalled extensively, the bridge could no longer pass an honest inspection.
(transitive)To reduce, as irregular blocks of stone, to an approximately level surface by hammering.
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
From Middle English spalle (“a chip”) (first documented in 1440), of uncertain origin. PerFrom Middle English spalle (“a chip”) (first documented in 1440), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from the Middle English verb spald (“to split”) (c.1400), from Middle Low German spalden, cognate with Old High German spaltan (“to split”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
spalls, spalling, spalled, spalledWord family
5 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.