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spur

[ spur ]

/ spɜr /

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See synonyms for: spur / spurred / spurring / spurs on Thesaurus.com

Definition of spur

noun

a U-shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a boot and has a blunt, pointed, or roweled projection at the back for use by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward.

anything that goads, impels, or urges, as to action, speed, or achievement.

Also called climbing spur . climbing iron.

Ornithology. a stiff, usually sharp, horny process on the leg of various birds, especially the domestic rooster, or on the bend of the wing, as in jacanas and screamers.

Pathology. a bony projection or exostosis.

a sharp piercing or cutting instrument fastened to the leg of a gamecock in cockfighting; gaff.

something that projects and resembles or suggests a gaff; sharp projection.

Physical Geography. a ridge or line of elevation projecting from or subordinate to the main body of a mountain or mountain range.

a short or stunted branch or shoot, as of a tree.

Typography. a short, seriflike projection from the bottom of the short vertical stroke in the capital G in some fonts.

wing dam.

Botany.

a slender, usually hollow, projection from some part of a flower, as from the calyx of the larkspur or the corolla of the violet.
Also called spur shoot . a short shoot bearing flowers, as in fruit trees.

Architecture.

a short wooden brace, usually temporary, for strengthening a post or some other part.
any offset from a wall, as a buttress.
griffe².

Ceramics. a triangular support of refractory clay for an object being fired.

Railroads. spur track.

verb (used with object), spurred, spur·ring.

to prick with or as if with a spur or spurs; incite or urge on: The rider spurred his mount ruthlessly. Appreciation spurs ambition.

to strike or wound with the spur, as a gamecock.

to furnish with spurs or a spur.

verb (used without object), spurred, spur·ring.

to goad or urge one's horse with spurs or a spur; ride quickly.

to proceed hurriedly; press forward: We spurred onward through the night.

OTHER WORDS FOR spur

2 goad, incitement, stimulus, incentive, inducement, provocation, instigation.

16 goad, provoke, stimulate, impel, inspire, induce, instigate.

See synonyms for spur on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR spur

16 discourage.

See antonyms for spur on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about spur

on the spur of the moment, without deliberation; impulsively; suddenly: We headed for the beach on the spur of the moment.

win one's spurs, to achieve distinction or success for the first time; prove one's ability or worth: Our team hasn't won its spurs yet.

Origin of spur

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun spore, spor(re), Old English spora, spura; cognate with Old High German sporo, Old Norse spori “spur”; verb derivative of the noun; akin to spurn

OTHER WORDS FROM spur

spurless, adjectivespurlike, adjectivespurrer, noun

Words nearby spur

spun rayon, spun silk, spun sugar, spunware, spun yarn, spur, spur blight, spur gall, spurge, spur gear, spur gearing

Other definitions for spur (2 of 2)

spur²

[ spur ]

/ spɜr /

noun Papermaking.

a batch of newly made rag-paper sheets.

Origin of spur

First recorded in 1880–85; origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use spur in a sentence

We can use that data to make on the spur, in-context decisions and give them the right kind of offer or channel.
Brand Summit Recap: Marketers face looming identity crisis|Digiday Editors|February 10, 2021|Digiday
Executives facing massive technology shifts in their business have two choices—bet the company on the next era, or collect cash in a shrinking industry before hanging up their spurs.
The Memo: Leadership against the wall|Heather Landy|February 3, 2021|Quartz
Some of the visuals capture an issue we worked on extensively, while others capture spur–of–the–moment breaking news that we did not expect.
22 Photos That Tell the Story of 2020|Adriana Heldiz|December 29, 2020|Voice of San Diego
It’s also possible that Freeman is simply healthier this year after having surgery last fall to remove bone spurs in his elbow.
Freddie Freeman Took The Leap. Now The Braves Are One Game Away From Doing The Same.|Travis Sawchik|October 16, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Most of the time, users write such reviews on the spur of the moment, after having a short unpleasant episode with your product or your staff.
How to turn your customer feedback into a driving force for your product|Maria Kazakova|June 18, 2020|Search Engine Watch
And for those seeking a quick fix: Studies show that light therapy can spur a mood lift in just several days.
9 Ways to Cope With Seasonal Affective Disorder|DailyBurn|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Did you plan on this or is this a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing?
Explosion of Cute: Inside the Superfan Mania of Hello Kitty Con 2014|Sarah Bay Williams|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Though it had been meant to spur innovation, she said, “it became obvious that the law was actually working in reverse.”
Here Come the Smart Guns: Will New Jersey Soon Have to Sell Safer Guns?|Brandy Zadrozny|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nonetheless, Zarif said that any U.S. ground presence in Iraq would likely spur opposition.
Iran Warns Obama to Stay Out of Iraq|Eli Lake|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I think I sometimes acted as a spur, even though the spurring was not always wanted or welcome,” she said.
Channeling Eleanor|Eleanor Clift|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A short distance off was another ridge or spur of the mountain, widening out into almost a plateau.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
But one battalion was isolated on a spur, from which there seemed no way of escape save under a scorching flank fire.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Quentin Gray regarded the story of Kazmah as a very poor lie devised on the spur of the moment.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
That lady turned her back upon him, and betook herself on the spur of the moment to Maude's room, determined to "have it out."
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
These marked the river hollow, and Payne, knowing that the chase might be ended in a few more minutes, did not spare the spur.
Winston of the Prairie|Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for spur

spur

/ (spɜː) /

noun

a pointed device or sharp spiked wheel fixed to the heel of a rider's boot to enable him to urge his horse on

anything serving to urge or encouragethe increase in salary was a spur to their production

a sharp horny projection from the leg just above the claws in male birds, such as the domestic cock

a pointed process in any of various animals; calcar

a tubular extension at the base of the corolla in flowers such as larkspur

a short or stunted branch of a tree

a ridge projecting laterally from a mountain or mountain range

a wooden prop or a masonry reinforcing pier

another name for groyne

Also called: spur track a railway branch line or siding

a short side road leading off a main roada motorway spur

a sharp cutting instrument attached to the leg of a gamecock

on the spur of the moment on impulse

win one's spurs

history to earn knighthood
to prove one's ability; gain distinction

verb spurs, spurring or spurred

(tr) to goad or urge with or as if with spurs

(intr) to go or ride quickly; press on

(tr) to injure or strike with a spur

(tr) to provide with a spur or spurs

Word Origin for spur

Old English spura; related to Old Norse spori, Old High German sporo

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

Medical definitions for spur

spur

[ spûr ]

A spine or projection from a bone.

Scientific definitions for spur

spur

[ spûr ]

A small ridge that projects sharply from the side of a larger hill or mountain.

A projection from a bone, as on the heel of the foot.

Other Idioms and Phrases with spur

spur

In addition to the idiom beginning with spur

spur on

also see:

on the spur of the moment
win one's spurs

spur

Definition of spur

OTHER WORDS FOR spur

OPPOSITES FOR spur

Idioms about spur

Origin of spur

OTHER WORDS FROM spur

Words nearby spur

Other definitions for spur (2 of 2)

Origin of spur

Words related to spur

How to use spur in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spur

Word Origin for spur

Medical definitions for spur

Scientific definitions for spur

Other Idioms and Phrases with spur