spue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/ArchaicLiterary/Archaic
Quick answer
What does “spue” mean?
To vomit or eject contents from the mouth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To vomit or eject contents from the mouth; to spew.
To expel or cast out with force or disgust, often in a figurative sense (e.g., rejecting ideas or values).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern regional difference, as the word is obsolete in both varieties. Historically, 'spue' was a common spelling variant of 'spew'.
Connotations
Archaic, biblical, or literary. May appear in older texts or in deliberate archaisms.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage. The modern standard is 'spew'.
Grammar
How to Use “spue” in a Sentence
[Subject] spue [Object] (transitive)[Subject] spue (intransitive)[Subject] spue out/forth [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spue” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient text warned that the earth would spue out the sinful.
- He felt so ill he thought he might spue.
American English
- The volcano seemed to spue ash and fire for days.
- In the old tale, the monster would spue its venom.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical/textual analysis of older works.
Everyday
Not used. 'Spew' or 'vomit' are used instead.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spue”
- Using 'spue' in modern contexts; misspelling as 'spew'; using it without understanding its archaic tone.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic or dialectal spelling of 'spew'. It is not used in modern standard English.
Primarily in older English texts, such as the King James Bible (1611) or works from the 16th-18th centuries.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Spue' is an older spelling variant. 'Spew' is the standard modern form.
Only if you are directly quoting an older source or deliberately aiming for an archaic literary style. Otherwise, use 'spew' or 'vomit'.
To vomit or eject contents from the mouth.
Spue is usually literary/archaic in register.
Spue: in British English it is pronounced /spjuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /spjuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The land spued out its inhabitants (biblical/literary)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SPUE' looks like 'SPEW' with a 'U' – an old-fashioned way to say 'spew up'.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION IS VOMITING (e.g., 'to spue out false doctrines').
Practice
Quiz
'Spue' is best described as: