ichidan verb, intransitive verb
Intransitive: liquid, grains, contents, etc. come out unintentionally from a container or over an edge. The transitive counterpart is こぼす, 'to spill something.'
コップから水がこぼれた。
Water spilled from the cup.
Rice is falling out through a hole in the bag.
鍋からスープがこぼれそうだ。
The soup looks like it is about to overflow from the pot.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
peek through; show from within; become visible
Figurative/descriptive use for something partly showing from a place where it is normally hidden or enclosed. It often has a soft, slightly literary feel.
彼女が笑うと、白い歯がこぼれた。
When she smiled, her white teeth showed.
襟元から白いレースがこぼれている。
White lace is peeking out from the collar.
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
Used of a smile, tears, words, or similar things that come out involuntarily or naturally, especially in set-like collocations such as 笑みがこぼれる and 涙がこぼれる.
その知らせを聞いて、思わず笑みがこぼれた。
When I heard the news, a smile escaped me.
合格の知らせに、彼女の目から涙がこぼれた。
At the news that she had passed, tears spilled from her eyes.