spoiler

(spoi'lər)
n.

1. One who seizes spoils or booty.
2. Something that causes spoilage.
3. 1. A long, narrow hinged plate on the upper surface of an airplane wing that reduces lift and increases drag when raised.
   2. An air deflector mounted usually at the rear of an automobile to reduce lift at high speeds.
4. A candidate for office whose chances of winning are slight but who may get enough votes to prevent one of the leading candidates from winning.
5. A published piece of information that divulges a surprise, such as a plot twist in a movie.

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[Usenet]

1. A remark which reveals important plot elements from books or movies, thus denying the reader (of the article) the proper suspense when reading the book or watching the movie.

2. Any remark which telegraphs the solution of a problem or puzzle, thus denying the reader the pleasure of working out the correct answer (see also interesting). Either sense readily forms compounds like total spoiler, quasi-spoiler and even pseudo-spoiler.

By convention, articles which are spoilers in either sense should contain the word ‘spoiler’ in the Subject: line, or guarantee via various tricks that the answer appears only after several screens-full of warning, or conceal the sensitive information via rot13, spoiler space or some combination of these techniques.

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A plate, series of plates, comb, tube, bar, or other device that projects into the airstream about a body to break up or spoil the smoothness of the flow, especially such a device that projects from the upper surface of an airfoil, giving an increased drag and a decreased lift. Spoilers are normally movable and consist of two basic types: the flap spoiler, which is hinged along one edge and lies flush with the airfoil or body when not in use, and the retractable spoiler, which retracts edgewise into the body. In some cases, spoilers are linked to the ailerons and work in unison with the ailerons for improved lateral control at low speeds. In some aircraft, they have replaced ailerons. The spoilers are used as airbrakes, lift dampers, and a means of lateral control.



A vertical spoiler projects upward into the airstream.

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For a list of words related to spoiler, see:

• Internet and World Wide Web - spoiler: part of a message that reveals an identity, solution to a puzzle, etc.
• Airframe and Engines - spoiler: surface designed to be extended from wing under certain conditions to spoil airflow over it, decrease lift, or increase drag
• General Sports Terminology

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See words rhyming with "spoiler."

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - spoiler

Nederlands (Dutch)
iemand die de boel verziekt, spoiler

Français (French)
n. - (Aut) becquet, (Aviat) aérofrein

Deutsch (German)
n. - Bremsklappe, Spoiler

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - πτερύγιο επιβράδυνσης/εκτροπής, αεροτομή, (αεροδυναμική) πρόσθετη ποδιά ή θωράκιο αυτοκινήτου

Italiano (Italian)
spoiler

Português (Portuguese)
n. - saqueador (m)

Русский (Russian)
прерыватель потока, спойлер, помеха, "третий лишний"

Español (Spanish)
n. - aguafiestas, expoliador, freno aerodinámico

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - spoiler, vingklaff

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
抢夺者, 损坏者

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 搶奪者, 損壞者

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 망쳐놓는 사람, 스포일러(하강 선회 능률을 좋게 하기 위하여 날개에 다는), 방해 입후보자

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - だめにするもの, 甘やかす人

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مفسد, لوحه تركب خلف السيارة لزيادة التصاقها بالطريق‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮שודד, מקלקל, משחית, מפריע‬

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