Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sprout \Sprout\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sprouted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Sprouting}.] [OE. sprouten, spruten; akin to OFries. spr?ta,
   AS. spre['o]tan, D. spruiten, G. spriessen, Sw. spruta to
   squirt, to spout. Cf. {Sprit}, v. t. & i., {Sprit} a spar,
   {Spout}, v. t., {Spurt}.]
   1. To shoot, as the seed of a plant; to germinate; to push
      out new shoots; hence, to grow like shoots of plants.

   2. To shoot into ramifications. [Obs.] --Bacon.

Sprout \Sprout\, v. t.
   1. To cause to sprout; as, the rain will sprout the seed.

   2. To deprive of sprouts; as, to sprout potatoes.

Sprout \Sprout\, n. [Cf. AS. sprote a sprout, sprig; akin to
   Icel. sproti, G. sprosse. See {Sprout}, v. i.]
   1. The shoot of a plant; a shoot from the seed, from the
      stump, or from the root or tuber, of a plant or tree; more
      rarely, a shoot from the stem of a plant, or the end of a
      branch.

   2. pl. Young coleworts; Brussels sprouts. --Johnson.

   {Brussels sprouts} (Bot.) See under {Brussels}.

Source : WordNet®

sprout
     n 1: any new growth of a plant such as a new branch or a bud
     2: a newly grown bud (especially from a germinating seed)
     v 1: produce buds, branches, or germinate; "the potatoes
          sprouted" [syn: {shoot}, {spud}, {germinate}, {pullulate},
           {bourgeon}, {burgeon forth}]
     2: put forth and grow sprouts or shoots; "the plant sprouted
        early this year" [syn: {stock}]