- spur
- [[t]spɜ͟ː(r)[/t]]
♦♦♦spurs, spurring, spurred1) VERB If one thing spurs you to do another, it encourages you to do it.
[V n to-inf] It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsy boats...
[V n to/into n/-ing] His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
Syn:Spur on means the same as spur.V n P
Their attitude, rather than reining him back, only seemed to spur Philip on... Also V P n (not pron), V n P to-inf V n P to n Criticism can be of great use; we may not like it at the time, but it can spur us on to greater things.2) VERB If something spurs a change or event, it makes it happen faster or sooner. [JOURNALISM][V n] The administration may put more emphasis on spurring economic growth...
[V n] The trade pacts will spur an exodus of US businesses to Mexico.
3) N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N to n Something that acts as a spur to something else encourages a person or organization to do that thing or makes it happen more quickly....a belief in competition as a spur to efficiency...
Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.
4) N-COUNT: usu pl Spurs are small metal wheels with sharp points that are attached to the heels of a rider's boots. The rider uses them to make their horse go faster.5) N-COUNT The spur of a hill or mountain is a piece of ground which sticks out from its side.6) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly, without planning it beforehand.They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment...
It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
Syn:on impulse7) PHRASE: V inflects If you win your spurs or earn your spurs, you achieve a particular status by proving that you can do something skilfully.Young conductors earn their spurs in a small orchestra or opera house.
English dictionary. 2008.
