spout

[ spout ]

verb (used with object)

1. to emit or discharge forcibly (a liquid, granulated substance, etc.) in a stream or jet.
2. Informal. to state or declaim volubly or in an oratorical manner:

   He spouted his theories on foreign policy for the better part of the night.

verb (used without object)

1. to discharge, as a liquid, in a jet or continuous stream.

   Synonyms: pour, livestream, squirt

2. to issue forth with force, as liquid or other material through a narrow orifice.

   Synonyms: pour, livestream, squirt

3. Informal. to talk or speak at some length or in an oratorical manner.

   Synonyms: speechify, harangue, rant, declaim

noun

1. a pipe, tube, or liplike projection through or by which a liquid is discharged, poured, or conveyed.

   Synonyms: nose, nozzle

2. a trough or shoot for discharging or conveying grain, flour, etc.
3. a waterspout.
4. a continuous stream of liquid, granulated substance, etc., discharged from or as if from a pipe, tube, shoot, etc.
5. a spring of water.
6. a downpour or fall, especially of water, from a high place; waterfall.
7. a dumbwaiter or chute, formerly common in pawnbrokers' shops, by which articles pawned were sent to another floor for storage.
8. British Slang. pawnshop.

spout

/ spaʊt /

verb

1. to discharge (a liquid) in a continuous jet or in spurts, esp through a narrow gap or under pressure, or (of a liquid) to gush thus
2. (of a whale, etc) to discharge air through the blowhole, so that it forms a spray at the surface of the water
3. informal.
   to utter (a stream of words) on a subject, often at length

noun

1. a tube, pipe, chute, etc, allowing the passage or pouring of liquids, grain, etc
2. a continuous stream or jet of liquid
3. See waterspout
   short for waterspout
4. up the spout slang.
   up the spout
   1. ruined or lost

      any hope of rescue is right up the spout

   2. pregnant

Derived Forms

• ˈspouter, noun

Other Words From

• spouter noun
• spoutless adjective
• spoutlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spout¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (verb) Middle English spouten; cognate with Dutch spuiten; akin to the Old Norse verb spȳta spit ¹; (noun) Middle English spowt(e) “pipe,” akin to the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spout¹

C14: perhaps from Middle Dutch spouten, from Old Norse spyta to spit

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. up the spout, British Slang.
   1. pawned.
   2. in a desperate situation; beyond help:

      His financial affairs are up the spout.

Synonym Study

See flow.

Example Sentences

Electric milk frothers come in pitcher-like designs with a spout and handle, as well as single-piece designs the size of a food processor.

From Popular-Science

The third option, a gravity-fed water fountain, features a large water container with a filter in the spout that feeds water into a basin via a valve.

From Popular-Science

These adjustments came after the tongue missed unseen or distant droplets, or when the spout was unexpectedly retracted a millimeter or more.

From Science News

Jerry cans can be carried either standing up vertically, or on their back, so long as the angled fuel spout remains on top, and this holder allows for either orientation.

From Outside Online

After 15 or 20 minutes of compression — this is the thrilling part — you empty the excess water from a spout at the top of the box.

From Eater

Meaning, Williams has basically previously displayed his willingness to spout government propaganda in exchange for cash.

From The Daily Beast

Displayed proudly on the bar top is a beautifully crafted, four-spout absinthe fountain filled with slowly melting ice.

From The Daily Beast

The spout was almost universally believed to be a sign of the apocalypse.

From The Daily Beast

If the spout was air and not water, then there was no necessary reason for it to be confined to seas and oceans.

From The Daily Beast

So this meant that the solid appearance of the spout had to be an illusion.

From The Daily Beast

I saw something of the same sort on the hills, and expected to see St. Helena spout flames.

From Project Gutenberg

The upper right hand object is furnished with a spout, and an opening for replenishing the vessel.

From Project Gutenberg

Accident made us meet with the seigneur count shortly before the sand-spout burst upon us.

From Project Gutenberg

At the entrance doors there are two curious pieces of wood exactly like spout heads.

From Project Gutenberg

Entries relating to the “spout or water engine” are frequent in their records.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gush