SPROUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sprout mean? 

• SPROUT (noun)
  The noun SPROUT has 2 senses:

1. any new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud

2. a newly grown bud (especially from a germinating seed)

  Familiarity information: SPROUT used as a noun is rare.

• SPROUT (verb)
  The verb SPROUT has 2 senses:

1. produce buds, branches, or germinate

2. put forth and grow sprouts or shoots

  Familiarity information: SPROUT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPROUT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("sprout" is a kind of...):

plant organ (a functional and structural unit of a plant or fungus)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sprout"):

shoot (a new branch)

bud (a swelling on a plant stem consisting of overlapping immature leaves or petals)

Derivation:

sprout (put forth and grow sprouts or shoots)

sprout (produce buds, branches, or germinate)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A newly grown bud (especially from a germinating seed)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("sprout" is a kind of...):

green; greens; leafy vegetable (any of various leafy plants or their leaves and stems eaten as vegetables)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sprout"):

bean sprout (any of various sprouted beans: especially mung beans or lentils or edible soybeans)

alfalfa sprout (sprouted alfalfa seeds)

Derivation:

sprout (put forth and grow sprouts or shoots)

sprout (produce buds, branches, or germinate)

• SPROUT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sprout    ... he / she / it sprouts   
Past simple: sprouted   
Past participle: sprouted   
-ing form: sprouting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Produce buds, branches, or germinate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

bourgeon; burgeon forth; germinate; pullulate; shoot; sprout; spud

Context example:

the potatoes sprouted

Hypernyms (to "sprout" is one way to...):

grow (increase in size by natural process)

Verb group:

germinate (cause to grow or sprout)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

sprout (a newly grown bud (especially from a germinating seed))

sprout (any new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud)

sprouting (the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put forth and grow sprouts or shoots

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

sprout; stock

Context example:

the plant sprouted early this year

Hypernyms (to "sprout" is one way to...):

acquire; develop; get; grow; produce (come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

sprout (a newly grown bud (especially from a germinating seed))

sprout (any new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud)

sprouting (the process whereby seeds or spores sprout and begin to grow)

 Context examples 

They used the compound sulforaphane, derived from broccoli sprouts, to restore lower levels of glutamate and glutathione.

(Key to Treating Schizophrenia May Be Found in Broccoli, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

They found the ashes scattered by the wind, but the peas and lentils had sprouted, and grown sufficiently above the ground, to guide them in the moonlight along the path.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Broccoli sprout extract comes from newly sprouted broccoli.

(Broccoli sprout extract, NCI Dictionary)

Jo's book was the pride of her heart, and was regarded by her family as a literary sprout of great promise.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A type of bean grown in warm climates, usually for its seed and for bean sprouts.

(Mung bean, NCI Dictionary)

Grasping these rushes firmly near the root, he pulled up what resembled a young onion-sprout no larger than a shingle-nail.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Before us was a great excavation, not very recent, for the sides had fallen in and grass had sprouted on the bottom.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Alpha-lipoic acid is made by the body and can be found in foods such as organ meats, spinach, broccoli, peas, brussel sprouts, and rice bran.

(Alpha-lipoic acid, NCI Dictionary)

Broccoli sprout extract contains a high amount of sulforaphane, a naturally occurring isothiocyanate.

(Broccoli sprout extract, NCI Thesaurus)

Here, in the City of London, was the taproot from which Empire and wealth and so many other fine leaves had sprouted.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)