spout

English

Etymology

From Middle English spouten, from Middle Dutch spoiten, spouten (> Dutch spuiten (to spout)), of imitative origin. Compare Swedish spruta a squirt, a syringe. See also spit, spew.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /spaʊt/
  • (Canada) IPA(key): /spʌʊt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -aʊt

Noun

spout (plural spouts)

  1. A tube or lip through which liquid or steam is poured or discharged.
    I dropped my china teapot, and its spout broke.
  2. A stream of liquid.
    • 2010, James Fleming, Cold Blood (page 160)
      A spout of blood flew from his mouth, spattering Smichov's linen trousers.
  3. The mixture of air and water thrown up from the blowhole of a whale.

Coordinate terms

  • (tube through which liquid is discharged): nozzle

Translations

Verb

spout (third-person singular simple present spouts, present participle spouting, simple past and past participle spouted)

  1. (intransitive) To gush forth in a jet or stream
    Water spouts from a hole.
  2. (transitive, intransitive) To eject water or liquid in a jet.
    The whale spouted.
    • Creech
      The mighty whale [] spouts the tide.
  3. (intransitive) To speak tediously or pompously.
  4. (transitive) To utter magniloquently; to recite in an oratorical or pompous manner.
    • Beaumont and Fletcher
      Pray, spout some French, son.
  5. (transitive, slang, dated) To pawn; to pledge.
    to spout a watch

Translations

Anagrams

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