English Reference

Word

spouting

Phoneticsspout·ing

US/ˈspaʊtɪŋ/

UK/spˈaʊtɪŋ/

Definitions

01liquid flowing out

B2

v. to flow or come out of something quickly and with force.

v. to eject or be ejected in a rapid, forceful stream or jet.

“Water was spouting from the broken pipe all over the kitchen floor.”

“The whale surfaced briefly, spouting a plume of mist into the cold morning air before diving back into the depths.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02talking too much

B2

v. to speak a lot about something, especially when you are repeating facts or opinions that others find boring.

v. to express opinions or information in a repetitive, pompous, or tedious manner.

“He spent the whole dinner spouting facts about his new car.”

“The politician stood on the stage spouting the same tired slogans he had used throughout the entire campaign.”

Informal

Teaching tip

This sense often carries a negative tone, suggesting the speaker is being annoying or showing off.

03roof guttering

C1

n. the channels under the edge of a roof that carry rainwater away.

n. a system of gutters fixed to the eaves of a building to collect and divert rainwater.

“We need to clean the leaves out of the spouting before the storm starts.”

“The heavy tropical downpour quickly overwhelmed the house's spouting, causing water to cascade over the sides of the porch.”

Dialect

Teaching tip

This term is primarily used in Australian and New Zealand English; speakers in the UK or US would typically say 'gutters' or 'guttering'.

Synonyms

gutteringdrainage

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/spouting

English Reference