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View synonyms for sprig

sprig

[ sprig ]

noun

  1. a small spray of some plant with its leaves, flowers, etc.
  2. an ornament having the form of such a spray.
  3. a shoot, twig, or small branch.
  4. Facetious. a scion, offspring, or heir of a family, class, etc.
  5. a youth or young fellow.
  6. a headless brad.
  7. Metallurgy.
    1. a small peg for reinforcing the walls of a mold.
    2. a metal insert, used to chill certain portions of cast metal, that becomes an integral part of the finished casting.


verb (used with object)

, sprigged, sprig·ging.
  1. to mark or decorate (fabrics, pottery, etc.) with a design of sprigs.
  2. to fasten with brads.
  3. Horticulture. to propagate a plant, especially grass, by planting individual stolons.
  4. Metallurgy. to reinforce the walls of (a mold) with sprigs.
  5. to remove a sprig or sprigs from (a plant).

sprig

/ sprɪɡ /

noun

  1. a shoot, twig, or sprout of a tree, shrub, etc; spray
  2. an ornamental device resembling a spray of leaves or flowers
  3. a small wire nail without a head
  4. informal.
    a youth
  5. informal.
    a person considered as the descendant of an established family, social class, etc
  6. another name for stud 1
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to fasten or secure with sprigs
  2. to ornament (fabric, wallpaper, etc) with a design of sprigs
  3. to make sprays from (twigs and branches)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈspriggy, adjective
  • ˈsprigger, noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sprig1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sprigge (noun); origin uncertain; sense “peg” perhaps of distinct origin; sprag 1, spray 2
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Word History and Origins

Origin of sprig1

C15: probably of Germanic origin; compare Low German sprick, Swedish sprygg
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Example Sentences

Rihab’s uncle placed two sprigs of artificial cherry blossom atop the grave, for the two girls, and later someone else laid a wreath for a stranger buried beside them.

From BBC

Add a few sprigs of mint, if desired.

From Salon

However, Gail's "well, here's a cilantro sprig" when asked to identify the Mexican component of that dish got a chuckle out of me.

From Salon

Four of the plants included in the analysis are already extinct, including the Guadalupe Island olive, which was sequenced using a dried sprig from 1875.

Under their porch, I stepped into a new skirt, summery with sprigs.

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