springboard

American  

[spring-bawrd, -bohrd] / ˈsprɪŋˌbɔrd, -ˌboʊrd /

noun

springboards plural

1. a flexible board, projecting over water, from which divers leap or spring.

2. a flexible board used as a takeoff in vaulting, tumbling, etc., to increase the height of leaps.

3. something that supplies the impetus or conditions for a beginning, change, or progress; a point of departure.

   a lecture to serve as a springboard for a series of seminars.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to impel or launch on or as if on a springboard.

springboard British  

/ ˈsprɪŋˌbɔːd /

noun

1. a flexible board, usually projecting low over the water, used for diving

2. a similar board used for gaining height or momentum in gymnastics

3. a board inserted into the trunk of a tree at some height above the ground on which a lumberjack stands to chop down the tree

4. anything that serves as a point of departure or initiation

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• springboards
  plural

Etymology

Origin of springboard

First recorded in 1865–70; spring + board

Example Sentences

And there was something about that that was sort of a spring board for her to jump into her own life, and say, "This is who I am."

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2016

"Somebody is going to finish fifth in the final polls. That's a spring board for next year. These are important games."

From US News • Dec. 31, 2015

Minnowy little Katherine Rawls of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.�without Georgia Coleman, who turned professional last year, to bother her�ran off with the loft. spring board diving title, 132.44 points to Dorothy Poynton's 123.64.

From Time Magazine Archive

No, indeed, Ned, the finest jumper in the world of men cannot begin to jump as well as a grasshopper, not even with the aid of a spring board.

From The Insect Folk by Morley, Margaret Warner

Ben went to the far end of the spring board.

From Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue Playing Circus by Hope, Laura Lee