Spoil vs. Soil — What's the Difference?

To damage or reduce the value or quality.

The top layer of the earth in which plants grow.

Waste material left over from mining or other industrial processes.

To tarnish or stain morally.

To become bad or unfit for consumption.

The territory or country of one's birth or citizenship.

To impair the character or nature of something.

To make something dirty, especially with earth or mud.

To give excessive indulgence to someone, usually a child.

A medium for plant growth.

To impair or destroy the quality or value of; ruin

Soil is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Earth's body of soil, called the pedosphere, has four important functions: as a medium for plant growth as a means of water storage, supply and purification as a modifier of Earth's atmosphere as a habitat for organismsAll of these functions, in their turn, modify the soil and its properties.

To impair or destroy the enjoyment or experience of

The top layer of the earth's surface in which plants can grow, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with decayed organic matter and having the capability of retaining water.

To reveal details about (a movie or a book, for example) before someone has a chance to discover these details on their own

A particular kind of earth or ground

To harm the character of (a child) by overindulgence or leniency.

Country; land

To plunder; despoil.

The agricultural life

To take by force.

A place or condition favorable to growth; a breeding ground.

To become unfit for use or consumption, as from decay. Used especially of perishables, such as food.

The state of being soiled.

Goods or property seized from a victim after a conflict, especially after a military victory.

A stain.

Incidental benefits reaped by a winner, especially political patronage enjoyed by a successful party or candidate.

Filth, sewage, or refuse.

An object of plunder; prey.

Manure, especially human excrement, used as fertilizer.

Refuse material removed from an excavation.

To make dirty, particularly on the surface.

(Archaic) The act of plundering; spoliation.

To disgrace; tarnish

To strip or deprive (someone) of their possessions; to rob, despoil.

To corrupt; defile.

To plunder, pillage (a city, country etc.).

To dirty with excrement.

To carry off (goods) by force; to steal.

To become dirty, stained, or tarnished.

(transitive) To ruin; to damage (something) in some way making it unfit for use.

To feed (livestock) with soilage.

(transitive) To ruin the character of, by overindulgence; to coddle or pamper to excess.

(uncountable) A mixture of mineral particles and organic material, used to support plant growth.

(intransitive) Of food, to become bad, sour or rancid; to decay.

(uncountable) The unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.

(transitive) To render (a ballot paper) invalid by deliberately defacing it.

(uncountable) The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of: climate (including water and temperature effects), and macro- and microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time. A product-soil differs from the material from which it is derived in many physical, chemical, biological, and morphological properties and characteristics.

(transitive) To reveal the ending or major events of (a story etc.); to ruin (a surprise) by exposing it ahead of time.

Country or territory.

(aviation) To reduce the lift generated by an airplane or wing by deflecting air upwards, usually with a spoiler.

That which soils or pollutes; a stain.

(Also in plural: spoils) Plunder taken from an enemy or victim.

A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer.

(archaic) The act of taking plunder from an enemy or victim; spoliation, pillage, rapine.

Dung; compost; manure.

(uncountable) Material (such as rock or earth) removed in the course of an excavation, or in mining or dredging. Tailings. Such material could be utilised somewhere else.

Faeces or urine etc. when found on clothes.

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 possessions.

A bag containing soiled items.

To seize by violence; to take by force; to plunder.

A wet or marshy place in which a boar or other such game seeks refuge when hunted.

To cause to decay and perish; to corrupt; to vitiate; to mar.

(transitive) To make dirty.

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.

(intransitive) To become dirty or soiled.

To practice plunder or robbery.

To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully.

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

(reflexive) To dirty one's clothing by accidentally defecating while clothed.

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

To make invalid, to ruin.

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.

To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.

That which is gained by strength or effort.

To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an enclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (due to such food having the effect of purging them) to purge by feeding on green food.

The act or practice of plundering; robbery; waste.

To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food; as, to soil a horse.

Corruption; cause of corruption.

To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.

The slough, or cast skin, of a serpent or other animal.

To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust.

(usually plural) valuables taken by violence (especially in war);

To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully.

The act of spoiling something by causing damage to it;

To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones.

The act of stripping and taking by force

The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them.

Make a mess of, destroy or ruin;

Land; country.

Become unfit for consumption or use;

Dung; fæces; compost; manure; as, night soil.

Alter from the original

A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer.

Treat with excessive indulgence;

That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain.

Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of;

The state of being covered with unclean things

Have a strong desire or urge to do something;

The part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock

Destroy and strip of its possession;

Material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use);

Make imperfect;

The geographical area under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state;

Make soiled, filthy, or dirty;

Spoiling a child by overindulging them can lead to behavioral issues, such as a lack of discipline or appreciation for what they have.

Common uses for spoil from construction sites include creating embankments, filling depressions, landscaping, or being processed for recycling in other projects.

When food spoils, it undergoes a process of decay caused by bacteria, mold, or yeast, which makes it unsafe and unpleasant to eat.

Healthy soil is typically rich in organic matter, has a crumbly texture, retains moisture well, and supports a thriving community of microorganisms.

Yes, soil can transmit diseases if it is contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites, which can infect humans and animals.

To spoil an election can mean to affect its outcome through negative means, such as spreading misinformation or tampering with votes.

Yes, the composition of soil can significantly affect the taste of agricultural products, as different minerals and pH levels can influence the growth and flavor profile of crops.

In a work environment, spoiling, such as favoritism by management, can lead to reduced morale and productivity among employees.

In many cultures, soil is used in rituals for its symbolic meanings of life and fertility; for example, in some wedding ceremonies, couples might plant a tree in soil to signify growth and unity.

Soil contamination refers to the presence of harmful substances in the soil at harmful levels, whereas soil pollution is the act of introducing these harmful substances.

The type of soil influences gardening choices by determining what plants can grow well in it based on its drainage, nutrient content, and pH level.

Yes, spoil from activities like dredging or mining can be reused beneficially in construction projects, habitat creation, or land reclamation.

It is important not to spoil voting ballots because spoiled ballots are not counted, which means they do not contribute to the democratic process and can affect the election outcome.

Spoiled soil can be rejuvenated by removing contaminants, adding organic matter, adjusting pH levels, and rotating crops to restore its health and fertility.

Soil erosion can lead to loss of topsoil, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased sedimentation in waterways, which affects water quality and aquatic life.