Shoot out, as lava from a volcano NYT crossword clue

The answer to the clue “Shoot out, as lava from a volcano” is **spew**.

When a volcano erupts, molten rock and gases forcefully shoot out from within the Earth’s crust. The verb “spew” vividly describes this violent ejection of lava, ash, and gas. It conveys a sense of rapid, uncontrollable discharge — which makes it a fitting word in both scientific and metaphorical contexts, often used to describe the outflow of something in large amounts.