spout

1 of 2

verb

ˈspau̇t 

spouted; spouting; spouts

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

spout

2 of 2

noun

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

ˈspau̇-təd 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• gush
• jet
• pour
• rush
• spew
• spurt
• squirt
• swoosh

Noun

• drainpipe
• eaves trough
• gutter
• rainspout
• trough
• waterspout

Examples of spout in a Sentence

Verb

The well was spouting oil.

She kept spouting on and on about politics.

Noun

Water was flowing from the spout.

the spout of a tea kettle

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This is the part that will require compromise — for conservatives who believe anything smacking of climate change is woke liberal propaganda, and for liberals who want nothing to do with conservatives spouting that belief. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

Hollander digs his teeth into every scene, from Capote spouting the rapier wit that the writer used to bring down more than a few, to cooking in his Manhattan apartment. —Lisa Respers France, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spout

• up the spout

Kids Definition

spout

1 of 2 verb

ˈspau̇t 

1

: to shoot (as liquid) out with force

wells spouting oil

2

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

3

: to flow out with force : spurt

blood spouted from the wound

spouter noun

spout

2 of 2 noun

1

: a tube, pipe, or hole through which something (as rainwater) spouts

2

: a sudden strong stream of fluid