I. ˈspau̇t, usu -au̇d.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English spouten; akin to Middle Dutch spoiten to spout, Middle High German spiuzen to spit, Old Norse spȳta to spit, spȳja to spew — more at spew
transitive verb
1. : to throw out (as liquid, vapor, granulated material, tiny objects) in a stream : eject in a jet
gleaming metal faucet that spouted clear water — Julian Dana
farmhouse windows spouted flame and smoke — F.V.W.Mason
wells spouted 200 barrels an hour — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
chewing snuff or spouting the brown residue into a tin pail — Earle Birney
— often used with out
machines of steel which spout out pins by the hundred million — G.B.Shaw
causing the clams … to spout out tiny streams of water — American Guide Series: Maine
2. : to speak or utter readily, volubly, and at length
fairly spouted technicalities — C.S.Forester
spouted French like a Frenchman
every cabdriver in town can spout facts and gossip — John Durant
often : to speak or utter in a pompous, oratorical, or grandiloquent manner : declaim
custom of these judges to spout extravagant … harangues from the bench — C.G.Bowers
spouting Latin invective — F.L.Windolph
always goes around spouting Shakespeare
spouts tag ends of wisdom — Leslie Rees
3.
[ spout (II) ]
archaic : pawn
4.
[ spout (II) ]
: to fit or furnish with a spout
had the roof repaired and the eaves spouted
teapot poured badly, had not been properly spouted
intransitive verb
1. : to issue with force in a strong stream or jet (as of liquid or other material discharged violently through a narrow opening) : spurt
oil was spouting from Western lands — Van Wyck Brooks
foamy bloody mucus spouted from her mouth and nose — Grace Reiten
illuminated by flaming jets which seemed to spout from the trees — John Reed
pure like a bubbling spring, a fountain spouting out — F.N.Souza
2. : to eject liquid or other material in a jet
geyser was spouting freely
waves were spouting high on the granite cliffs — C.L.Barrett
he'd shy each time a clam spouted — G.W.Brace
specifically : blow 5b
3. : to talk or speak volubly or at length especially in a pompous or grandiloquent manner : declaim
gave radio concerts, and politicians spouted into the strange instruments — F.L.Allen
spout about science and rationalism — Harold Strauss
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English spoute; akin to Middle Dutch spoite spout, Middle English spouten to spout
1. : a tube, pipe, or conductor through which a liquid is discharged or by which it is conveyed in a stream from one place to another: as
a.
(1) : a pipe (as in a gargoyle) for carrying off water from the roof of a building
(2) : downspout
(3) : gutter 2a — usually used in plural
b. : the part of a fountain or pump from which water issues
c.
(1) : a projecting tube or lip for guiding the flow of a liquid poured from a receptacle
broke the spout off the teapot
soldered a new spout on the watering can
(2) : a hollow metal device inserted in a hole bored in a maple tree to conduct the sap into a detachable pail
d. : blowhole 2
e. : nozzle
2.
a. : a discharge or jet of water or other fluid matter from or as if from a pipe especially when ejected with some violence or when rising in a column
surging uprush of invisible spouts of warm air — William Beebe
as
(1) : waterspout ; also : a downpour of rain
(2) : a spring of water
(3) : the blowing of a whale
b. : something appearing as if spouted out
a solitary dark spout of smoke — Eric Linklater
violent spouts and gusts of burning oil — Nevil Shute
a rising spout of debate on guns versus butter — Fortune
a spout of blasphemies — G.K.Chesterton
3. also spout fish : razor clam
4.
a. : a usually enclosed trough or chute for conducting bulk materials (as flour, grain) to or from a receptacle
b. : a trough for conducting molten metal from a furnace to a ladle
c.
(1) : a shoot or lift formerly used in a pawnbroker's shop for transferring pawned articles
(2) archaic : pawnshop
5. : something resembling or suggestive of a spout on a roof or the spout of a vessel (as in discharging a liquid or in being in the shape of a pipe or a lip)
eyes became two spouts — Shakespeare
nest high up in the hollow spout of the big fire-blackened gum — Sydney (Australia) Bulletin
6. : a rush of water to a lower level : cascade , waterfall
•
- up the spout