Nutrients are not absorbed

• A chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and nontropical forms and in both children and adults
• Symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation
• Waste metal
• Metal left over after casting
• Dross

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
Etymology 1 n. (context medicine English) A tropical disease causing a sore throat and tongue, and disturbed digestion; psilosis. Etymology 2 n. 1 (context founding English) The hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"piece of metal (later plastic) attached to a cast object," 1875, earlier (1849) "channel through which metal is poured into a mold;" of unknown origin.

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sprue \Sprue\ (spr[udd]), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Founding) Strictly, the hole through which melted metal is poured into the gate, and thence into the mold. The waste piece of metal cast in this hole; hence, dross. (Med.) Same as Sprew .

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and nontropical forms and in both children and adults; nutrients are not absorbed; symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation [syn: tropical sprue ]

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
A sprue may refer to: Sprue (manufacturing) , a feature in molding and casting molds Coeliac disease , also known as sprue, a disease of the small intestine Tropical sprue , disease Sprue Asparagus , first pickings of asparagus