spout

verb \ ˈspau̇t \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of spout

transitive verb

1 : to eject (liquid) in a stream

wells spouting oil

2 a : to speak or utter readily, volubly, and at length

b : to speak or utter in a pompous or oratorical manner : declaim

a candidate spouting empty promises

intransitive verb

1 : to issue with force or in a jet : spurt

2 : to eject material (such as liquid) in a jet

3 : declaim

—

spouter

noun

See spout defined for English-language learners

See spout defined for kids

Examples of spout in a Sentence

The well was spouting oil.
She kept spouting on and on about politics.

Recent Examples of spout from the Web

Characters spout Bible verses or Hallmark platitudes.

— tara isabella burton, Vox, "Great movies about faith are hard to come by. Enter Blue Velvet.," 5 Apr. 2018
Stretch spouted off numbers about the percentage of ads purchased by the Russian trolls, the reach of those ads, and the total posts these phony accounts shared.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "The Question Only Mark Zuckerberg Can Answer Before Congress," 5 Apr. 2018
The whale’s mouth and esophagus are completely separate from its blowhole and airway, so Nemo’s friends would find no escape there, and the spray that whales spout isn’t water.

— claire eamer, Smithsonian, "How Children’s Books Reveal Our Evolving Relationship With Whales," 27 Mar. 2018
Tourists travel by Russian Mil Mi-8 in-engine helicopters, stopping off at the Valley of the Geysers, Russia’s Yellowstone, where volcanic vents spout boiling water 30 feet into the air.

— sophy roberts, Condé Nast Traveler, "Exploring Kamchatka, Russia's Adventure Playground," 22 Mar. 2018
Depoe Bay's spouting horn is perhaps the most dramatic, known to spray across Highway 101, drenching cars that drive through town.

— jamie hale, OregonLive.com, "Spouting horns are a dramatic, fascinating feature of the Oregon coast," 24 Jan. 2018
Before the water spouts with an Irish tint, enjoy live music, kids activities, a beer garden, food trucks and more.

— scott craven, azcentral, "St. Patrick's Day 2018 events in Phoenix and around Arizona," 13 Mar. 2018
In late 2015, Italian virologist Roberto Burioni took part in a Q&A with young mothers on a Facebook group and was alarmed to find many of them spouting conspiracy theories about vaccinations.

— tara john, Time, "How Anti-Vaxxers Could Help Decide Italy's Election," 28 Feb. 2018
In minstrelsy, white men donned blackface to spout false and harmful portrayals of black men and women.

— ashley nkadi, The Root, "Black Mirror: ‘Black Museum’ Reckons With America’s History of Commodifying Black Pain," 8 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of spout

Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch spoiten to spout, Old English spīwan to spew

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

spout Synonyms

spout

noun

Definition of spout

1 : a pipe or conductor through which a liquid is discharged or conveyed in a stream: such as

a : a pipe for carrying rainwater from a roof

b : a projecting tube or lip from which a liquid (such as water) issues

2 : a discharge or jet of liquid or moisture from or as if from a pipe: such as

a : waterspout

b : the blowing of a whale

3 archaic : pawnshop

—

spouted

play \ˈspau̇-təd\ adjective

See spout defined for English-language learners

Examples of spout in a Sentence

Water was flowing from the spout.
the spout of a tea kettle

Recent Examples of spout from the Web

Pro tip: Pinch the lip of the Styrofoam cup to make a spout that makes the coffee easier to pour.

— carlos frías, miamiherald, "Cuban Coffee 101: Everything to know about ordering coffee in Miami | Miami Herald," 29 Mar. 2018
Pressing her fist against her mouth to try to put a cork on another spout of laughter.

— linda robertson, miamiherald, "Serena Williams returns to Miami Open while finding joy, motivation in motherhood | Miami Herald," 20 Mar. 2018
The cliffs at the Headlands is one of the best places to see the puff-of-smoke spouts of passing gray whales from now through early summer.

— tom stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "No-name waterfall a prize find on Mendocino coast," 8 Mar. 2018
The whack-wacking flap of the pigeon’s fat wings has barely done disappearing down the city canyon when the glossy-beaked hawk leaps atop a rain spout gargoyle and looks down at me.

— bryce milligan, San Antonio Express-News, "Express-News Poetry," 8 Mar. 2018
Then, while still blending, slowly pour the remaining oil through the spout until the mixture comes together as mayo.

— Cincinnati.com, "How to get kids to eat Brussels sprouts," 1 Mar. 2018
Another shows the whale blasting a man with water from its spout as other passengers laugh.

— don sweeney, sacbee, "Once-in-a-lifetime video of boaters petting a whale might show a crime, experts say | The Sacramento Bee," 27 Feb. 2018
The Stone Avenue Station, built in 1901, received an $1.085 million dollar update in 2014 that replaced the station roof, gutters, drain-spouts, doors, windows and provided tuck pointing.

— hank beckman, chicagotribune.com, "La Grange Stone Avenue station to get another $1.4 million in upgrades," 13 Feb. 2018
At 191 faucets, labels were placed identifying sinks for hand-washing only and no further action was deemed necessary, and nine spouts — all at Johnson Elementary — were removed permanently.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "Six drinking fountains to be replaced after East Aurora lead testing," 19 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of spout

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

spout Synonyms

Synonyms

jet, spurt, squirt;

Related Words

flush, gush, spew;

spit, spray, spritz;

geyser, spouter;

blast, burst;

SPOUT Defined for English Language Learners

spout

verb

Definition of spout for English Language Learners

: to shoot out (a liquid) with force
: to flow out with force
: to say or talk about (something) in a way that is boring or annoying

spout

noun

Definition of spout for English Language Learners

: a tube, pipe, or hole out of which a liquid flows
: a sudden strong stream of liquid

SPOUT Defined for Kids

spout

verb \ ˈspau̇t \

Definition of spout for Students

spouted; spouting

1 : to shoot out (liquid) with force

Wells spouted oil.

2 : to speak with a long and quick flow of words so as to sound important

He spouted his opinions at the meeting.

3 : to flow out with force : spurt

Blood spouted from the wound.

spout

noun

Definition of spout for Students

1 : a tube, pipe, or hole through which something (as rainwater) shoots out

2 : a sudden strong stream of fluid

Learn More about spout

See words that rhyme with spout Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spout Spanish Central: Translation of spout Nglish: Translation of spout for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of spout for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up spout? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

spout

Definition of spout

spouter

Examples of spout in a Sentence

Recent Examples of spout from the Web

Origin and Etymology of spout

spout Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

spout

Definition of spout

spouted

Examples of spout in a Sentence

Recent Examples of spout from the Web

First Known Use of spout

spout Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to SPOUT

Related Phrases

SPOUT Defined for English Language Learners

spout

Definition of spout for English Language Learners

spout

Definition of spout for English Language Learners

SPOUT Defined for Kids

spout

Definition of spout for Students

spout

Definition of spout for Students

Learn More about spout

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

Trending: 'Venom' Trailer Drives Searches for 'Symbiote'

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes