Real Dictionary

sprue in American English 1
a chronic, chiefly tropical disease characterized by defective absorption of food, anemia, gastrointestinal disorders, etc.
noun: an opening through which molten metal is poured into a mold
transitive verb: to cut the sprues from (a casting)

sprue in American English 2
an opening through which molten material, as metal or plastic, is poured into a mold
noun: a chronic disease, occurring chiefly in the tropics, resulting from malabsorption of nutrients from the small intestine and characterized by diarrhea, ulceration of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and a smooth, shining tongue; psilosis

sprue in British English 1
noun: a vertical channel in a mould through which plastic or molten metal is introduced or out of which it flows when the mould is filled

sprue in British English 2
noun: a chronic disease, esp of tropical climates, characterized by flatulence, diarrhoea, frothy foul-smelling stools, and emaciation

sprue in British English 3
noun: an inferior type of asparagus