sprout

A small new part of a plant growing from a seed, root, or stem.

• A green sprout appeared in the pot.
• She added fresh bean sprouts to the salad.
• We removed the long sprouts from the potatoes.

Similar words: shoot

Common phrases: bean sprout, a new sprout, a green sprout

A small, round green vegetable that looks like a tiny cabbage.

• Would you like some sprouts?
• We served roast sprouts with the turkey.
• She hated boiled sprouts as a child.

Similar words: Brussels sprout

Common phrases: Brussels sprout, boiled sprout, roast sprout

A small child, especially when spoken about affectionately.

• How is your little sprout?
• Their two sprouts played happily in the garden.
• That young sprout has grown since I last saw him.

Similar words: kid, child

Common phrases: a little sprout, your young sprout

To begin growing from a seed, or make seeds begin to grow.

• The seeds have sprouted.
• Warmth and water help beans sprout quickly.
• You can sprout lentils in a jar on the windowsill.

Similar words: germinate

Common phrases: sprout from seeds, sprout beans, begin to sprout

To grow or suddenly appear from the ground or another surface.

• Weeds sprouted through the cracks.
• New hairs are sprouting on his chin.
• Tall buildings sprouted from the empty ground beyond the station.

How to use it: sprout from something (Tiny shoots sprouted from the roots.); sprout through something (Grass sprouted through the pavement.)

Similar words: grow, emerge

Common phrases: sprout from something, sprout up, sprout through something

To appear or develop unexpectedly, often in several places.

• New cafés have sprouted up everywhere.
• Fresh ideas sprouted during our conversation.
• Small businesses are sprouting across the town.

How to use it: sprout up (New shops have sprouted up near the station.)

Similar words: appear, spring up

Opposites: disappear

Common phrases: sprout up, sprout everywhere, sprout across something

To remove the new shoots from vegetables such as potatoes.

• Please sprout the potatoes before cooking them.
• She sprouted the potatoes stored in the cellar.
• We spent the morning sprouting an entire sack of potatoes.

Common phrases: sprout potatoes, sprout stored potatoes