spur Hear it!

spur Definition

spur (spʉr)

noun

  1. any of various pointed devices worn on the heel by the rider of a horse and used to urge the horse forward
  2. anything that urges, impels, or incites; stimulus to action
  3. something like a spur; specif.,
    1. a spinelike process, as on the wings or legs of certain birds
    2. a spinelike outgrowth of bone, as on the human heel, resulting from injury, disease, etc.
    3. a climbing iron, as used by lumberjacks
    4. a sharp metal device attached as a weapon to the leg of a gamecock in a cockfight
    5. a short, stunted, or projecting branch or shoot of a tree, etc.
  4. a range or ridge projecting in a lateral direction from the main mass of a mountain or mountain range
    1. griffe
    2. a buttress, as of masonry, or any similar structure
    3. a short wooden reinforcing piece; brace; strut
  5. spur track
  6. Bot. a slender, tubelike structure formed by a basal extension of one or more petals or sepals, often serving as a nectar receptacle; calcar

Etymology: ME spure < OE spura, akin to Ger sporn < IE base *sp(h)er-, to jerk, push with the foot > spurn, Sans sphurāti, (he) kicks away, L spernere, lit., to push away

transitive verb spurred, spur·ring

  1. to strike or prick with a spur or spurs
  2. to urge, incite, or stimulate to action, greater effort, etc.
  3. to provide with a spur or spurs
  4. to strike or injure as with a spur (sense )

intransitive verb

  1. to spur one's horse
  2. to hurry; hasten

spur Related Forms
spur·rer noun
spur Idioms

on the spur of the moment

hastily and abruptly; without forethought or preparation

win one's spurs

to attain distinction or honor, esp. for the first time; establish one's reputation

spur Synonyms

spur

v.

goad, prick, impel; see drive 1, 2, encourage 2, push 2.

on the spur of the moment

suddenly, without a second thought, spontaneously, impulsively; see quickly 2.

spur Usage Examples

Object

  • tortoise: I bought a greek spur thighed tortoise 3 years ago.
  • scam: From the us receive the random were eligible for scams spurred by.
  • innovation: Among the programs BP established to spur innovation was a series of action learning events.
  • growth: Work begins on The Environmental Audit report with WWF, which helps spur rapid growth in environmental auditing.
  • boss: Spurs boss Martin Jol accuses Man City's David Sommeil of making one of the " worst tackles ever " .
  • fan: I don't remember spurs fans ever taking the Shed or even trying to.

Converse of object

  • fuse: The drying room, charger and nearby sockets are on a fused spur from the ring main.
  • connect: There is a connecting spur into Bishop Auckland station - the terminus of the ' Heritage Line ' passenger service from Darlington.

Adjective modifier

  • calcaneal: Furthermore, calcaneal spurs are common incidental ( asymptomatic ) findings.
  • bony: The bone at the edge of the joint grows outwards ( this forms osteophytes or bony spurs ).
  • rocky: Cuidad Rodrigo stands on a rocky spur overlooking the banks of the River Agueda.
  • eastern: The eastern spur of the railroad over to Rae's Wharf.
  • sharp: In fact, it is a shelf of bone, not a sharp spur.
  • northern: A northern spur of the state, the Northwest Angle, contains a portion of Lake of the Woods.

Modifies a noun

  • gear: The project will use experimental data from a spur gear set.
  • wheel: The turbine then drove the spur wheel directly by means of a cast iron gear.

Noun used with modifier

  • heel: How can I run with a painful heel spur?
  • bone: I've been told my pain is caused by a bone spur.

Preposition: of

  • moment: Romantic Nights Dice £ 4.99 Romantic Nights dice provide great spur of the moment romantic ideas with a simple roll of the dice.
  • hill: The southwest spur of that hill is named Uamh Mhor, a possible approximation to Uam Var.
spur Quotes

Danger, the spur of all great minds.

—Chapman, George

Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and thesurest of allguardsagainst improbity.

—Bentham,Jeremy

Browse dictionary entries near spur

  1. spunky
  2. spunk
  3. spun yarn
  4. spun sugar
  5. spun silk
  6. spun glass
  7. spun
  8. spumoni
  9. spumescent
  10. spume
  1. spur gear
  2. spur track
  3. spurge
  4. spurge laurel
  5. spurious
  6. spurn
  7. spurred
  8. spurrier
  9. spurry
  10. spurt