spout

Everyday

1. A spout is a short tube or lip on a teapot, kettle or jug that liquid is poured out of. tree →
2. A spout is a strong stream of liquid, such as a whale's spout of water and air. tree →
3. To spout is to come or send out liquid in a strong stream. tree →
4. (informal) To spout is to talk a lot, often saying silly or boring things: «He spouts nonsense». tree →
5. «Up the spout» (UK, informal) means ruined or wasted. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, the spout is the part of the teapot or watering can you pour from. In nature lessons, a whale's spout is the cloud of breath it blows out of its blowhole. In stories, a fountain spouts water. Informally, people complain that someone «spouts rubbish». Phrases: «water spout», «spout nonsense», «up the spout».

Examples

• Tea poured from the spout of the teapot. tree →
• The watering can has a long spout. tree →
• We saw a whale's spout far out at sea. tree →
• Water spouted from the broken pipe. tree →
• The fountain spouts water high into the air. tree →
• He's always spouting nonsense about aliens. tree →
• The rain made all our plans go up the spout. tree →
• The fountains spouted forth the most delicious wine, and whoever bought a penny loaf at the baker's received six large buns, full of raisins, as a present. tree →

Note

Noun is countable; verb is regular (spouted). «Spout nonsense» is informal and a bit rude about someone. «Waterspout» (one word) is also a tornado over water.

In Jewish tradition

In Zechariah it means the golden pipes through which oil flows from the olive trees to the lamp.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the olive branches as God's chosen anointed ones, such as the governor and the high priest, who give light to Israel through God's spirit.

Examples

• And I answered the second time, and said unto him: 'What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?' (Prophets ZEC.4.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Noun is countable; verb is regular (spouted). «Spout nonsense» is informal and a bit rude about someone. «Waterspout» (one word) is also a tornado over water.