sprout

I UK [spraʊt] / US verb
Word forms "sprout":
present tense I/you/we/they sprout he/she/it sprouts present participle sprouting past tense sprouted past participle sprouted

1) [intransitive] if a leaf or other part of a plant is sprouting, it is beginning to grow on the plant

a) [intransitive] if a plant sprouts, new leaves or shoots begin to grow on it

b) [transitive] to make a plant start to produce new leaves or shoots

2) [intransitive/transitive] if something such as hair sprouts, or if you sprout it, it starts to grow suddenly or quickly

The monster sprouted a new head each time he attacked it.

3)

a) sprout or sprout up

[intransitive] if things sprout or sprout up somewhere, they appear there or increase in number suddenly and very quickly

Anti-government posters are sprouting up along a nearby wall.

New businesses began to sprout up across the country.

b) used about something that comes out of a surface

Thick pipes sprouted from the floor and disappeared through the ceiling.

II UK [spraʊt] / US noun
Word forms "sprout":
singular sprout plural sprouts

1) [countable] British a Brussels sprout

2) [countable] a new shoot on a plant

3) sprouts

[plural] American bean sprouts