Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense spurs, present participle spurring, past tense, past participle spurred
1. verb
If one thing spurs you to do another, it encourages you to do it.
It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsyboats. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part. [V n + to/into]
Synonyms: incite, drive, prompt, press More Synonyms of spur
Spur on means the same as spur.
Their attitude, rather than reining him back, only seemed to spur Philip on. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
We may not like criticism, but it can spur us on to greater things. [VERB noun PARTICLE + to]
[Also VP n (not pron), V n P to-inf]
2. verb
If something spurs a change or event, it makes it happen faster or sooner.
[journalism]
The administration may put more emphasis on spurring economic growth. [VERB noun]
The trade pacts will spur an exodus of U.S. businesses to Mexico. [VERB noun]
3. countable noun [usually singular]
Something that acts as a spurto something else encourages a person or organization to do that thing or makes it happenmore quickly.
...a belief in competition as a spur to efficiency. [+ to]
Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.
Synonyms: stimulus, incentive, impetus, motive More Synonyms of spur
4. countable noun [usually plural]
Spurs are small metal wheels with sharp points that are attached to the heels of a rider'sboots. The rider uses them to make their horse go faster.
5. countable noun
The spur of a hill or mountain is a piece of ground which sticks out from its side.
6.
See on the spur of the moment
7.
See win one's spurs/earn one's spurs
More Synonyms of spur
spur in British English
(spɜː)
noun
1.
a pointed device or sharp spiked wheel fixed to the heel of a rider's boot to enable him or her to urge the horse on
2.
anything serving to urge or encourage
the increase in salary was a spur to their production
3.
a sharp horny projection from the leg just above the claws in male birds, such as the domestic cock
4.
a pointed process in any of various animals; calcar
5.
a tubular extension at the base of the corolla in flowers such as larkspur
6.
a short or stunted branch of a tree
7.
a ridge projecting laterally from a mountain or mountain range
8.
a wooden prop or a masonry reinforcing pier
9. another name for groyne
10. Also called: spur track
a railway branch line or siding
11.
a short side road leading off a main road
a motorway spur
12.
a sharp cutting instrument attached to the leg of a gamecock
13. on the spur of the moment
14. win one's spurs
verbWord forms: spurs, spurring or spurred
15. (transitive)
to goad or urge with or as if with spurs
16. (intransitive)
to go or ride quickly; press on
17. (transitive)
to injure or strike with a spur
18. (transitive)
to provide with a spur or spurs
Word origin
Old English spura; related to Old Norse spori, Old High German sporo
spur in American English
(spɜr)
noun
1.
any of various pointed devices worn on the heel by the rider of a horse and usedto urge the horse forward
2.
anything that urges, impels, or incites; stimulus to action
3.
something like a spur
; specif.,
a.
a spinelike process, as on the wings or legs of certain birds
b.
a spinelike outgrowth of bone, as on the human heel, resulting from injury, disease, etc.
c.
a climbing iron, as used by lumberjacks
d.
a sharp metal device attached as a weapon to the leg of a gamecock in a cockfight
e.
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
5.
a.
griffe
b.
a buttress, as of masonry, or any similar structure
c.
a short wooden reinforcing piece; brace; strut
6.
spur track
7. Botany
a slender, tubelike structure formed by a basal extension of one or more petals or sepals, often serving as a nectar receptacle; calcar
verb transitiveWord forms: spurred or ˈspurring
8.
to strike or prick with a spur or spurs
9.
to urge, incite, or stimulate to action, greater effort, etc.
10.
to provide with a spur or spurs
11.
to strike or injure as with a spur (sense 3) spur (sense 3d)
verb intransitive
12.
to spur one's horse
13.
to hurry; hasten
Idioms:
on the spur of the moment
win one's spurs
Derived forms
spurrer (ˈspurrer)
noun
Word origin
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
More idioms containing
spur
do something on the spur of the moment
Examples of 'spur' in a sentence
spur
The other great spur was my friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These produce fruit on short stems called spurs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This exhibition could be just the spur that is needed.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You may be her spur to quit her sleazy business.
The Sun (2013)
Rose seemed booted and spurred for greatness.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What was intended as a spur to competition had the opposite effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But it was a spur to lesser things.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The older ones are constantly bringing friends home on the spur of the moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The crisis spurred the growth of the suburbs.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Until her death we spurred one another along in our endeavours to remain stoic.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Spurs drew too many at the end of last term.
The Sun (2013)
The goal spurred us to go on to clinch a fine victory.
The Sun (2011)
The need to be financially viable is a great spur to improvement and better service.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Spurs just about deserved victory but were well below their best.
The Sun (2014)
Spurs may claim they have at least won a trophy in the last nine months.
The Sun (2008)
Driving it is like wearing spurs on your boots.
The Sun (2006)
Spurs will face competition for both players.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And that dented pride was one of the main things that spurred me on.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Spurs were winning 5-0 at the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is a fat, curved spur at the back.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Spurs' announcement of a new boss is not expected before next week.
The Sun (2012)
Champagne had transformed them into a most impressive side and Spurs were obviously up against it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Spurs are short of attacking quality, have no recognised defensive midfielder and also failed to sign a left winger.
The Sun (2008)
Spurs sold him back to Porto for a 1.25m loss.
The Sun (2006)
Word lists with
spur
Tack and equipment and their parts, parts of plants
In other languages
spur
British English: spur VERB
If one thing spurs you to do another, it encourages you to do it.
It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsy boats.
American English: spur
Brazilian Portuguese: estimular
Chinese: 鼓动
European Spanish: estimular
French: inciter
German: anspornen
Italian: spronare
Japanese: 拍車をかける
Korean: 자극하다
European Portuguese: estimular
Latin American Spanish: estimular
British English: spur NOUN
Something that acts as a spur to something else encourages a person or organization to do that thing or makes it happen more quickly.
...a belief in competition as a spur to efficiency.
American English: spur
Brazilian Portuguese: estímulo
Chinese: 激励
European Spanish: estímulo
French: incitation
German: Ansporn
Italian: sprone
Japanese: 刺激
Korean: 자극제
European Portuguese: estímulo
Latin American Spanish: estímulo
All related terms of 'spur'
spur-gall
to scrape , rub or injure (a horse) with the spur when riding
spur gear
a gear having involuted teeth either straight or helically cut on a cylindrical surface . Two such gears are used to transmit power between parallel shafts
spur growth
The growth of something such as an industry, organization, or idea is its development in size, wealth , or importance .
spur track
a short track connected with the main track of a railroad
spur veins
the veins of a horse that can be damaged by a rider's spurs
spur-of-the-moment
sudden and unplanned
climbing iron
either of a pair of metal frames with spikes that may be strapped over footgear , on the inside of the leg to aid in climbing trees, public utility poles , etc.
on the spur of the moment
If you do something on the spur of the moment , you do it suddenly , without planning it beforehand .
spurne
to spur
spurring
a pointed device or sharp spiked wheel fixed to the heel of a rider's boot to enable him or her to urge the horse on
do something on the spur of the moment
to do something suddenly and without planning it in advance
Chinese translation of 'spur'
spur
(spəːʳ)
n
a spur to sth某物的刺激物 (mǒuwù de cìjīwù)
(c) (on rider's boot) 靴刺 (xuēcì) (根, gēn)
vt
to spur sb into (doing) sth激励(勵)某人去(做)某事 (jīlì mǒurén qù (zuò) mǒushì)
on the spur of the moment一时(時)冲(衝)动(動)之下 (yīshí chōngdòng zhī xià)
(verb)
Definition
to encourage (someone)
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
Synonyms
incite
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
drive
Curiosity drove me to probe into what they worked on together.
prompt
The recession has prompted consumers to cut back on buying cars.
press
urge
They urged parliament to approve plans for their reform programme.
stimulate
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
animate
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
prod
a tactic to prod the government into spending more on education
prick
goad
He goaded me into taking direct action.
impel
I felt impelled to go on speaking.
1 (noun)
Definition
an incentive to get something done
Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.
Synonyms
stimulus
Falling interest rates could be a stimulus to the economy.
incentive
There is little incentive to adopt such measures.
impetus
She needed a new impetus for her talent.
motive
Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing.
impulse
Their impulse of broadcasting was for human rights.
inducement
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
incitement
an incitement to rioting
kick up the backside (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
a sharp spiked wheel on the heel of a rider's boot used to urge the horse on
Synonyms
goad
His distrust only acted as a goad to me to prove him wrong.
prick
rowel
3 (noun)
Definition
a sharp horny part sticking out from a cock's leg
An X-ray might show a small spur of bone at the site of your pain.
Synonyms
projection
spike
a 15-foot wall topped with iron spikes
protuberance
a protuberance on the upper jawbone
protrusion
an ugly protrusion on the ankle where the bone had not set properly
idiom
See on the spur of the moment
Additional synonyms
in the sense of animate
Definition
to make lively
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
Synonyms
enliven,
encourage,
excite,
urge,
inspire,
stir,
spark,
move,
fire,
spur,
stimulate,
revive,
activate,
rouse,
prod,
quicken,
incite,
instigate,
kick-start (informal),
impel,
energize,
kindle,
embolden,
liven up,
breathe life into,
invigorate,
gladden,
gee up,
vitalize,
vivify,
inspirit
in the sense of drive
Definition
to goad into a specified state
Curiosity drove me to probe into what they worked on together.
Synonyms
force,
press,
prompt,
spur,
compel,
motivate,
oblige,
railroad (informal),
prod,
constrain,
prick,
coerce,
goad,
impel,
dragoon,
actuate
in the sense of impel
Definition
to urge or force (a person) to do something
I felt impelled to go on speaking.
Synonyms
force,
move,
compel,
drive,
require,
push,
influence,
urge,
inspire,
prompt,
spur,
stimulate,
motivate,
oblige,
induce,
prod,
constrain,
incite,
instigate,
goad,
actuate
Synonyms of 'spur'
spur
Explore 'spur' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of impetus
Definition
an incentive or impulse
She needed a new impetus for her talent.
Synonyms
incentive,
push,
spur,
motivation,
impulse,
stimulus,
catalyst,
goad,
impulsion
in the sense of impulse
Their impulse of broadcasting was for human rights.
Synonyms
force,
pressure,
push,
movement,
surge,
motive,
thrust,
momentum,
stimulus,
catalyst,
impetus
in the sense of incentive
Definition
something that encourages effort or action
There is little incentive to adopt such measures.
Synonyms
inducement,
motive,
encouragement,
urge,
come-on (informal),
spur,
lure,
bait,
motivation,
carrot (informal),
impulse,
stimulus,
impetus,
stimulant,
goad,
incitement,
enticement
in the sense of incitement
an incitement to rioting
Synonyms
provocation,
prompting,
encouragement,
spur,
motive,
motivation,
impulse,
stimulus,
impetus,
agitation,
inducement,
goad,
instigation,
clarion call
in the sense of inducement
Definition
something that encourages someone to do something
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
Synonyms
incentive,
motive,
cause,
influence,
reward,
come-on (informal),
spur,
consideration,
attraction,
lure,
bait,
carrot (informal),
encouragement,
impulse,
stimulus,
incitement,
clarion call
in the sense of motive
Definition
the reason, whether conscious or unconscious, for a certain course of action
Police have ruled out robbery as a motive for the killing.
Synonyms
reason,
motivation,
cause,
ground(s),
design,
influence,
purpose,
object,
intention,
spur,
incentive,
inspiration,
stimulus,
rationale,
inducement,
incitement,
mainspring,
the why and wherefore
in the sense of prod
Definition
to rouse (someone) to action
a tactic to prod the government into spending more on education
Synonyms
prompt,
move,
urge,
motivate,
spur,
stimulate,
rouse,
stir up,
incite,
egg on,
goad,
impel,
put a bomb under (informal)
in the sense of prompt
Definition
to motivate or cause someone to do something
The recession has prompted consumers to cut back on buying cars.
Synonyms
cause,
move,
inspire,
stimulate,
occasion (formal),
urge,
spur,
provoke,
motivate,
induce,
evoke,
give rise to,
elicit,
incite,
instigate,
impel,
call forth
in the sense of protrusion
an ugly protrusion on the ankle where the bone had not set properly
Synonyms
protuberance,
swelling,
lump,
bump,
projection,
bulge,
hump,
jut,
outgrowth
in the sense of protuberance
a protuberance on the upper jawbone
Synonyms
bulge,
swelling,
lump,
bump,
tumour,
projection,
prominence,
knob,
hump,
outgrowth,
protrusion,
excrescence,
process
Additional synonyms
in the sense of spike
Definition
a long metal nail
a 15-foot wall topped with iron spikes
Synonyms
point,
stake,
spur,
pin,
nail,
spine,
barb,
tine,
prong
in the sense of stimulate
Definition
to encourage to start or progress further
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
Synonyms
encourage,
inspire,
prompt,
galvanize,
fire,
fan,
urge,
spur,
provoke,
arouse,
animate,
rouse,
prod,
quicken,
inflame,
incite,
instigate,
goad,
whet,
impel,
foment,
gee up
in the sense of urge
Definition
to plead with or press someone to do something
They urged parliament to approve plans for their reform programme.