spur

¹ American  

[spur] / spɜr /

noun

1. a U -shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a riding boot and has a blunt or pointed metal part projecting from the back: used by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward by pressing the projection against the horse’s flank.

2. anything that urges or drives someone to act, hurry, etc..

   A passion to win the championship was the spur that galvanized him to train like never before.

   Synonyms:

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

3. Also called climbing spur.  climbing iron.

4. 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.

5. Pathology. bone spur.

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

   2. anything resembling this instrument; a sharp projection or attachment.

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

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

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

10. wing dam.

11. Botany.

    1. a slender, usually hollow, projection from some part of a flower, as from the calyx of the larkspur or the corolla of the violet.

    2. Also called spur shoot.  a short shoot bearing flowers, as in fruit trees.

12. Architecture.

    1. a short wooden brace, usually temporary, for strengthening a post or some other part.

    2. any offset from a wall, as a buttress.

    3. griffe.

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

14. Railroads. spur track.

---

verb (used with object)

spurred, spurring

1. to prick or urge with or as if with a spur or spurs; incite or drive (often used withon ).

   The rider spurred his mount into a wild gallop.

   Their encouragement spurred her on to achieve even more.

   Synonyms:

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

   Antonyms:

   discourage

2. (of a gamecock) to strike or wound with a spur.

3. to furnish with spurs or a spur.

verb (used without object)

spurred, spurring

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

   Horsemen spurred along every road to carry the news over the country.

2. to proceed hurriedly; press forward.

   We spurred onward through the night.

idioms

1. on the spur of the moment, without deliberation; impulsively; suddenly.

   We headed for the beach on the spur of the moment.

2. 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.

spur ² American  

[spur] / spɜr /

noun

Papermaking.

1. a batch of newly made rag-paper sheets.

---

spur British  

/ spɜː /

noun

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

14. 1. history to earn knighthood

    2. to prove one's ability; gain distinction

---

verb

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

2. (intr) to go or ride quickly; press on

3. (tr) to injure or strike with a spur

4. (tr) to provide with a spur or spurs

spur Scientific  

/ spûr /

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

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

---

spur More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing spur

• on the spur of the moment
• win one's spurs

---

Other Word Forms

• spurless adjective
• spurlike adjective
• spurrer noun

Etymology

Origin of spur¹

First recorded before 900; (for the noun) 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

Origin of spur²

First recorded in 1880–85; origin uncertain

Explanation

To spur something on is to get it going, to encourage it, to hasten it or stimulate. Cowboys wear spiky metal tools called spurs on their boots to kick their horses and spur them to greater speed. Economists talk of lowering interest rates to spur spending. A new source of funding for research will hopefully spur new proposals for research from scientists. An earthquake in China might spur cities in California to a higher standard of earthquake preparedness. You might spur your team on to victory by cheering from the sidelines.

Example Sentences

This was the spur for him joining a gym, which became a life-changing moment.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Government bond prices were weighed by concerns that higher oil prices could stoke inflation and spur central banks to hike interest rates faster or pause rate cuts for longer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Are religious narratives meant to spur us or breed comfort?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The entry of Apple and Google should add momentum and spur innovation around privacy and cost.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

She remembered the long, horrible pain and hallucination that she’d suffered at the spur of the Chevalier Tialys, and didn’t envy the two men their waking up.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• arouse
• drive
• propel
• push
• spark
• stimulate
• stir
• trigger