Use spout for the shaped outlet itself, especially on a kettle, jug, bottle, tap, gutter, or drain.
Use spout for the shaped outlet itself, especially on a kettle, jug, bottle, tap, gutter, or drain.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She filled the spout with tea. | She filled the teapot with tea. |
| The bottle's spout is empty. | The bottle is empty. |
| Water ran down the roof spout into the gutter. | Water ran down the downspout from the gutter. |
Use spout for what is thrown out or seen in the air, not for the hole or tube that releases it.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| A spout in the pipe soaked the floor. | A spout of water from the pipe soaked the floor. |
| The whale's blowhole rose above the sea as a spout. | A spout rose above the sea from the whale's blowhole. |
| The spout was installed on the fountain. | A spout of water rose from the fountain. |
Use spout when something comes out forcefully or visibly, often from a pipe, wound, geyser, or whale.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She spouted tea carefully into the cup. | She poured tea carefully into the cup. |
| He spouted the bottle into the glass. | He poured the bottle into the glass. |
| The whale poured in the bay. | The whale spouted in the bay. |
Use spout when the speaking feels excessive, showy, or irritating, often in spout off or spout about.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The professor spouted a helpful explanation. | The professor gave a helpful explanation. |
| She spouted quietly for directions. | She asked quietly for directions. |
| He spoke nonsense from the pipe. | He spouted nonsense during the meeting. |
Match spout to either an outlet, the stream it releases, the action of gushing out, or a disapproving way of speaking at length.
She spouted tea into the cup overstates ordinary pouring, while he spouted a helpful answer wrongly adds an annoyed or showy tone.
From Middle English spouten, probably from Middle Dutch spouten, from an imitative Germanic base also seen in Old Norse spýta, meaning to spit.
What is a spout on a kettle?
It is the projecting tube or lip that guides liquid out of the kettle.
Is a spout the same as a nozzle?
They overlap, but spout often names an outlet on a container, tap, roof, or drain, while nozzle often suggests a shaped end that controls a spray or jet.
What is a whale's spout?
A whale's spout is the visible blow of air and water vapor from its blowhole.
How is spout used as a verb for liquid?
It means to send out liquid, steam, blood, or another material in a forceful stream, as in water spouted from the pipe.
What does spout mean when someone is talking?
It means to talk at length in a tiresome, pompous, or disapprovingly forceful way.
What does spout off mean?
Spout off means to speak at length, usually with strong opinions and an annoying tone.
Can spout mean a waterfall?
Yes, spout can name a narrow or forceful fall of water, though this is less common than the container or jet senses.
Is spout a regular verb?
Yes. Its regular forms are spouts, spouted, and spouting.
Where does spout come from?
It comes through Middle English from a Germanic verb meaning to spit or send liquid out.