spur
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spur
(spûr)n.
1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.
2. An incentive: a spur to action.
3. A spurlike attachment or projection, as:
a. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.
b. A climbing iron; a crampon.
c. A gaff attached to the leg of a gamecock.
d. A short or stunted branch of a tree.
e. A bony outgrowth or protuberance.
4. A lateral ridge projecting from a mountain or mountain range.
5. An oblique reinforcing prop or stay of timber or masonry.
6. Botany A tubular or saclike extension of the corolla or calyx of a flower, as in a columbine or larkspur.
7. An ergot growing on rye.
8. A spur track.
v. spurred, spur·ring, spurs
v.tr.
1. To urge (a horse) on by the use of spurs.
2. To incite or stimulate: "A business tax cut is needed to spur industrial investment" (New York Times).
v.intr.
To ride quickly by spurring a horse.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
spur
(spɜː)n
1. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) a pointed device or sharp spiked wheel fixed to the heel of a rider's boot to enable him to urge his horse on
2. anything serving to urge or encourage: the increase in salary was a spur to their production.
3. (Zoology) a sharp horny projection from the leg just above the claws in male birds, such as the domestic cock
4. (Zoology) a pointed process in any of various animals; calcar
5. (Botany) a tubular extension at the base of the corolla in flowers such as larkspur
6. (Botany) a short or stunted branch of a tree
7. (Physical Geography) a ridge projecting laterally from a mountain or mountain range
8. (Building) a wooden prop or a masonry reinforcing pier
9. (Civil Engineering) another name for groyne
10. (Railways) Also called: spur track a railway branch line or siding
11. (Automotive Engineering) a short side road leading off a main road: a motorway spur.
12. (Individual Sports, other than specified) a sharp cutting instrument attached to the leg of a gamecock
13. on the spur of the moment on impulse
14. (Historical Terms) history to earn knighthood
15. to prove one's ability; gain distinction
vb, spurs, spurring or spurred
16. (tr) to goad or urge with or as if with spurs
17. (intr) to go or ride quickly; press on
18. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) (tr) to injure or strike with a spur
19. (Individual Sports, other than specified) (tr) to injure or strike with a spur
20. (tr) to provide with a spur or spurs
[Old English spura; related to Old Norse spori, Old High German sporo]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
spur
(spɜr)n., v. spurred, spur•ring. n.
1. a U-shaped device fitted with a pointed projection, secured to the heel of a boot, and used by a rider to urge a horse forward.
2. something that goads to action.
4. a stiff, usu. sharp, horny process on the leg of various birds, esp. the domestic rooster, or on the bend of the wing, as in jacanas and screamers.
5. an abnormal bony growth or projection.
6. a gaff fastened to the leg of a gamecock.
7. a ridge or line of elevation projecting from or subordinate to the main body of a mountain or mountain range.
8. a short or stunted branch or shoot, as of a tree.
9.
a. a slender, usu. hollow projection from some part of a flower.
b. a short shoot bearing flowers.
10. Archit.
a. a short wooden brace for strengthening a post or other part.
b. any offset from a wall, as a buttress.
11. a short branch track leading from the main track.
v.t. 12. to prick with or as if with a spur or spurs; incite or urge on.
13. to furnish with spurs or a spur.
v.i. 14. to goad or urge one's horse with spurs.
15. to proceed hurriedly; press forward.
Idioms: 1. on the spur of the moment, impulsively; suddenly.
2. win one's spurs, to achieve distinction or success for the first time.
[before 900; Old English spura, c. Old Saxon, Old High German sporo, Old Norse spori spur; akin to spurn]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
spur
Past participle: spurred
Gerund: spurring
| Imperative |
|---|
| spur |
| spur |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
spur
A short stubby branch on fruit trees that produces flowers and subsequently fruit.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  spur - a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something; "the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves"encouragement - the expression of approval and support |
| 2. | spur - any sharply pointed projection projection - any solid convex shape that juts out from something | |
| 3. | spur - tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers plant process, enation - a natural projection or outgrowth from a plant body or organ | |
| 4. | spur - a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward; "cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on" boot - footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg rowel - a small spiked wheel at the end of a spur | |
| 5. | spur - a railway line connected to a trunk line loop-line - a railway branch line that branches from the trunk line and then rejoins it later on | |
| Verb | 1. | spur - incite or stimulate; "The Academy was formed to spur research" |
| 2. | spur - give heart or courage to encourage - inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to | |
| 3. | spur - strike with a spur strike - deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon; "The teacher struck the child"; "the opponent refused to strike"; "The boxer struck the attacker dead" | |
| 4. | spur - goad with spurs; "the rider spurred his horse" goad - urge with or as if with a goad | |
| 5. | spur - equip with spurs; "spur horses" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
spur
verb
noun
1. stimulus, incentive, impetus, motive, impulse, inducement, incitement, kick up the backside (informal) Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.
2. projection, spike, protuberance, protrusion An X-ray might show a small spur of bone at the site of your pain.
on the spur of the moment on impulse, without thinking, impulsively, on the spot, impromptu, unthinkingly, without planning, impetuously, unpremeditatedly They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
spur
nounSomething that causes and encourages a given response:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
حافِزمِهْماز
ostruhabič
incitamentspore
kannuskannustaakannustinyllyttää
ösztökéléssarkantyú
hvati, örvunspori
paragintipentinas
pamudinājumspiesis
ostroha
ostroga
mahmuzteşvik edici şey
spur
[spɜːʳ]A. N
2. [of cock] → espolón m
3. (fig) → estímulo m, aguijón m
the spur of hunger → el aguijón del hambre
it will be a spur to further progress → servirá de estímulo or acicate al progreso
on the spur of the moment → sin pensar
it was a spur of the moment decision → fue una decisión tomada al instante
the spur of hunger → el aguijón del hambre
it will be a spur to further progress → servirá de estímulo or acicate al progreso
on the spur of the moment → sin pensar
it was a spur of the moment decision → fue una decisión tomada al instante
4. (Geog) [of mountain, hill] → espolón m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
spur
[ˈspɜːr]Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
spur
n
→ Sporn m; (fig) → Ansporn m, → Antrieb m → (to für); he urged the horse on with his spurs → er gab dem Pferd die Sporen; to win or earn one’s spurs (fig) → sich (dat) → die Sporen verdienen; this might act as a spur to the players → das könnte ein Ansporn für die Spieler sein; this was a new spur to his ambition → das gab seinem Ehrgeiz neuen Antrieb or Ansporn
(Geog) → Vorsprung m
(Zool) → Sporn m
(Rail) → Nebengleis nt, → Rangiergleis nt
vt
vi (also spur on) → galoppieren, sprengen (dated)
spur
:spur track
n (Rail) → Nebengleis nt, → Rangiergleis nt
spur wheel
n → Stirnrad nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
spur
[spɜːʳ]Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
spur
(spəː) noun1. a small instrument with a sharp point or points that a rider wears on his heels and digs into the horse's sides to make it go faster.
2. anything that urges a person to make greater efforts. He was driven on by the spur of ambition.
on the spur of the moment suddenly; without previous planning. We decided to go to Paris on the spur of the moment.
spur on to urge a horse to go faster, using spurs, or a person to make greater efforts. He spurred his horse on; The thought of the prize spurred her on.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
spur
n. espolón, protuberancia esp. de un hueso;
calcaneal ___ → ___ calcáneo.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
spur
n (ortho) espolón m; bone — espolón óseo; calcaneal — (form), heel — espolón calcáneo (form), espolón en el talónEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.