sprout

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Cooking

n. seeds that have just started to grow and are eaten as a healthy food.

n. germinated seeds, such as alfalfa or mung beans, typically consumed raw or lightly cooked for their nutritional value.

“I like to add bean sprouts to my salad for a bit of crunch.”

“The chef garnished the stir-fry with fresh bean sprouts to provide a crisp texture that contrasted with the tender noodles.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Cooking

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

n. a small, edible green bud of the Brassica oleracea plant, resembling a miniature cabbage.

“We usually have roasted sprouts with our big dinner at Christmas.”

“Many children dislike the bitter taste of boiled sprouts, though roasting them with balsamic vinegar often improves their appeal.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to start to grow or produce new parts.

v. to produce new growth or to begin the process of germination.

“The seeds we planted last week are finally starting to sprout.”

“Under the right conditions of moisture and warmth, the dormant seeds will sprout within a matter of days.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to appear or grow quickly and in large numbers.

v. to emerge or develop rapidly and often in an unplanned or haphazard manner.

“New coffee shops are sprouting up all over the city lately.”

“Dozens of luxury apartment complexes have sprouted along the waterfront, fundamentally changing the city's skyline within a single decade.”