sprout

 
Pronunciation: /sprəʊt/

verb

[no object]
  • (of a plant) put out shoots: the weeds begin to sprout
  • [with object] grow (plant shoots or hair): many black cats sprout a few white hairs
  • [no object] (of a plant, flower, or hair) start to grow; spring up: crocuses sprouted up from the grass
  • [no object] appear or develop suddenly and in large numbers: plush new hotels are sprouting up everywhere

noun

  • 1a shoot of a plant: the flower pots are full of green sprouts
  • (sprouts) young shoots, especially of alfalfa, mung beans, or soybeans, eaten as a vegetable.

Origin:

Middle English: of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch spruiten and German spriessen