1. (v. t.) To plunder; to strip by violence; to pillage; to rob; -- with of before the name of the thing taken; as, to spoil one of his goods or possession.

2. (v. t.) To seize by violence;; to take by force; to plunder.

3. (v. t.) To cause to decay and perish; to corrupt; to vitiate; to mar.

4. (v. t.) To render useless by injury; to injure fatally; to ruin; to destroy; as, to spoil paper; to have the crops spoiled by insects; to spoil the eyes by reading.

5. (v. i.) To practice plunder or robbery.

6. (v. i.) To lose the valuable qualities; to be corrupted; to decay; as, fruit will soon spoil in warm weather.

7. (n.) That which is taken from another by violence; especially, the plunder taken from an enemy; pillage; booty.

8. (n.) Public offices and their emoluments regarded as the peculiar property of a successful party or faction, to be bestowed for its own advantage; -- commonly in the plural; as to the victor belong the spoils.

9. (n.) That which is gained by strength or effort.

10. (n.) The act or practice of plundering; robbery.

11. (n.) Corruption; cause of corruption.

12. (n.) The slough, or cast skin, of a serpent or other animal.