/sprowt/ , v.i.
1. to begin to grow; shoot forth, as a plant from a seed.
2. (of a seed or plant) to put forth buds or shoots.
3. to develop or grow quickly: a boy awkwardly sprouting into manhood.
v.t.
4. to cause to sprout.
5. to remove sprouts from: Sprout and boil the potatoes.
n.
6. a shoot of a plant.
7. a new growth from a germinating seed, or from a rootstock, tuber, bud, or the like.
8. something resembling or suggesting a sprout, as in growth.
9. a young person; youth.
10. sprouts ,
a. the young shoots of alfalfa, soybeans, etc., eaten as a raw vegetable.
b. See Brussels sprout .
[ 1150-1200; (v.) ME spr ( o ) uten, OE -sprutan, in asproten (ptp.; see A- 3 ); c. MD spruten, G spriessen to sprout; akin to Gk speírein to scatter; (n.) ME; cf. MD, MLG sprute ]
Syn. 1. spring, bud, burgeon, develop.