sprig

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a small shoot : twig
a sprig of parsley
b
: a small division of grass used for propagation
2
a
: heir
b
: youth
c
: a small specimen
3
: an ornament resembling a sprig, stemmed flower, or leaf
4
: a small headless nail : brad

sprig

2 of 2

verb

sprigged; sprigging

transitive verb

1
: to drive sprigs or brads into
2
: to mark or adorn with the representation of plant sprigs
3
: to propagate (a grass) by means of stolons or small divisions

Examples of sprig in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Yellow onion, thyme sprigs, and garlic cloves: Provide good depth of flavor. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2023 These adorable place cards by Camille Styles are created simply by tying fresh rosemary sprigs to mini grapevine wreaths. Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 18 Aug. 2023 This classic pho dish is made with strips of rare filet mignon, vermicelli noodles and green onions in a fragrant beef bone broth, served with sides of fresh bean sprouts, jalapeño slices, a lime wedge and a sprig of Thai basil (which imparts a black licorice-like flavor to the dish). Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Aug. 2023 Add wine and thyme sprigs and cook, scraping up any browned bits, 1 minute. Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 8 Aug. 2023 With elevated white floral sprigs towering over the vase, this arrangement was a showstopper. Henry Chandonnet, Peoplemag, 21 July 2023 And tossing a few sprigs of fresh mint into this ice cream float doesn't hurt, either. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2023 Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with the oregano sprigs and lemon wedges, if desired. Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2023 Serve with cantaloupe wedges and additional thyme sprigs if desired. Christine Albano, Good Housekeeping, 16 June 2023
Verb
YanYan’s ivory wool twinsets, sprigged with microflorals, are a direct nod to the classic maa maa’s uniform. Vogue, 14 Mar. 2019 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sprig.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sprigge

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sprig was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sprig

Cite this Entry

“Sprig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sprig. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

sprig

noun
ˈsprig
: a small shoot or twig especially with leaves or flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on sprig

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