as in chip
a small flat piece separated from a whole
found a variety of uses for the spalls left over from their stonecutting operations
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Recent Examples of spall
The curtains are made up of overlapping, three-quarter inch plates of AR500 steel encased in a layer of ballistic nylon that captures spall, the shards of metal that break off from a colliding bullet.
—
Dan Robitzski, Popular Mechanics, 8 Mar. 2018
The reports noted that numerous repairs had been made to cracks and spalls in the spillway.
—Bettina Boxall, latimes.com, 24 Apr. 2017
Dan Robitzski, Popular Mechanics, 8 Mar. 2018
The reports noted that numerous repairs had been made to cracks and spalls in the spillway.
—Bettina Boxall, latimes.com, 24 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spall
Noun
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Sean McVay’s team has a chip on its shoulder after watching the division rival Seattle Seahawks lift the Lombardi Trophy last season.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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Scheffler was in the thick collar of rough to the right of the par-3 17th, facing a chip over a ridge and down toward the hole.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Noun
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The peas themselves are piled like cabochons over a thin pastry shell, dressed in a tart citrus vinaigrette and studded with slivers of pickled shallots that deliver bracing little sparks of brine against the crisp sweetness of the legumes.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
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This is merely a sliver of the warm welcome Bhatia received on Friday, which saw an impressive second round that thrusted the powerful lefty to one-under-par on the day and minus-4 overall, comfortably in the Top 20 heading into the weekend.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Straus Family Creamery is voluntarily recalling a variety of organic ice cream flavors and sizes sold in 17 states because of concerns there may be metal fragments in the frozen treats, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
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Vaccines present either defanged pathogens or distinctive fragments of them to specialized immune cells—namely, T cells and antibody-producing B cells—that can then learn to identify those microbial enemies.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Noun
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While the group claims it was formed by splinter factions of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, authorities have accused it of being a front for the TTP.—
Riaz Khan,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
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Not-so-splendid splinter During a 1976 game against the Dodgers at San Diego Stadium, Padres left-hander Randy Jones was pitching to the Dodgers’ Bill Russell to lead off the seventh inning.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For Denver and communities along the Interstate 25 corridor, snow accumulation chances remain low, though a few flakes could mix in Monday.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
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The condition causes itchy eyes, puffy eyelids and crusty flakes along the eyelashes, according to the Cleveland Clinic.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Hall was found dead at a villa with head injuries, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported, and had shards of glass from a glass door in his chest, per local outlet Ultima Hora.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
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For context, Juszczyk is a 6-foot-1, 235-pound behemoth whose knees probably feel like broken shards of glass at this point in his life.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spall. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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