Library / English Dictionary

SPUR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: spurred    , spurring   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A railway line connected to a trunk line

Synonyms:

branch line; spur; spur track

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spur" is a kind of...):

line; rail line; railway line (the road consisting of railroad track and roadbed)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spur"):

loop-line (a railway branch line that branches from the trunk line and then rejoins it later on)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward

Example:

cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on

Synonyms:

gad; spur

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("spur" is a kind of...):

goad; prod (a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion)

Meronyms (parts of "spur"):

rowel (a small spiked wheel at the end of a spur)

Holonyms ("spur" is a part of...):

boot (footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg)

Derivation:

spur (goad with spurs)

spur (equip with spurs)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

Example:

the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves

Synonyms:

goad; goading; prod; prodding; spur; spurring; urging

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("spur" is a kind of...):

encouragement (the expression of approval and support)

Derivation:

spur (give heart or courage to)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("spur" is a kind of...):

enation; plant process (a natural projection or outgrowth from a plant body or organ)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Any sharply pointed projection

Synonyms:

acantha; spine; spur

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("spur" is a kind of...):

projection (any solid convex shape that juts out from something)

Derivation:

spur (strike with a spur)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Goad with spurs

Example:

the rider spurred his horse

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "spur" is one way to...):

goad (urge with or as if with a goad)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

spur (a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Equip with spurs

Example:

spur horses

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "spur" is one way to...):

equip; fit; fit out; outfit (provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

spur (a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Strike with a spur

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "spur" is one way to...):

strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)

"Spur" entails doing...:

injure; wound (cause injuries or bodily harm to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

spur (any sharply pointed projection)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Give heart or courage to

Synonyms:

goad; spur

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "spur" is one way to...):

encourage (inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

spur (a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Incite or stimulate

Example:

The Academy was formed to spur research

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "spur" is one way to...):

advance; boost; encourage; further; promote (contribute to the progress or growth of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

spurring (a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Research on French green clays, however, spurred testing of other clays with likely antibacterial properties.

(New answer to MRSA, other 'superbug' infections: clay minerals?, NSF)

A ring of tissue extending from the scleral spur to the ora serrata of the retina.

(Ciliary body, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Separately, warmer temperatures and higher population density each spurred earlier springs.

(Urbanization delays spring plant growth in warm regions, National Science Foundation)

Such accumulation can present as gallstones or kidney stones, become bone spurs, or even end up in other parts of the body.

(Bone-Like Particles Found Travelling through Human Bloodstream, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A program to spur development of daring technologic improvements in cancer treatment and detection in the 21st century.

(NCI Unconventional Innovations Program, NCI Thesaurus)

A surgical procedure used to remove bone spurs or irregularities from a joint.

(Cheilectomy, NCI Thesaurus)

Then lift her quickly on to the horse behind you; clap your spurs to his side, and gallop away as fast as you can.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I described, as well as I could, our way of riding; the shape and use of a bridle, a saddle, a spur, and a whip; of harness and wheels.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Contraction of longitudinal muscle pulls on the scleral spur, and opens the trabecular meshwork, thereby increases aqueous humor outflow from the eye and reduces intraocular pressure.

(Echothiophate Iodide, NCI Thesaurus)

When it reared, the master put the spurs to it and made it drop its fore-legs back to earth, whereupon it would begin kicking with its hind-legs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)