SPRING (sprang, sprung)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: sprang    , sprung   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spring mean? 

• SPRING (noun)
  The noun SPRING has 6 senses:

1. the season of growth

2. a metal elastic device that returns to its shape or position when pushed or pulled or pressed

3. a natural flow of ground water

4. a point at which water issues forth

5. the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

6. a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

  Familiarity information: SPRING used as a noun is common.

• SPRING (verb)
  The verb SPRING has 5 senses:

1. move forward by leaps and bounds

2. develop into a distinctive entity

3. spring back; spring away from an impact

4. develop suddenly

5. produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly

  Familiarity information: SPRING used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPRING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The season of growth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

spring; springtime

Context example:

he will hold office until the spring of next year

Hypernyms ("spring" is a kind of...):

season; time of year (one of the natural periods into which the year is divided by the equinoxes and solstices or atmospheric conditions)

Meronyms (parts of "spring"):

March equinox; spring equinox; vernal equinox (March 21)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A metal elastic device that returns to its shape or position when pushed or pulled or pressed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the spring was broken

Hypernyms ("spring" is a kind of...):

elastic device (any flexible device that will return to its original shape when stretched)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spring"):

bedspring ((usually in the plural) one of the springs holding up the mattress of a bed)

coil spring; volute spring (a spring in the shape of a coil)

leaf spring (long narrow spring consisting of several layers of metal springs bracketed together)

mainspring (the most important spring in a mechanical device (especially a clock or watch); as it uncoils it drives the mechanism)

spiral spring (a spring that is wound like a spiral)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A natural flow of ground water

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

fountain; natural spring; outflow; outpouring; spring

Hypernyms ("spring" is a kind of...):

formation; geological formation ((geology) the geological features of the earth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spring"):

Fountain of Youth (a fountain described in folk tales as able to make people young again)

geyser (a spring that discharges hot water and steam)

hot spring; thermal spring (a natural spring of water at a temperature of 70 F or above)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A point at which water issues forth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("spring" is a kind of...):

beginning; origin; root; rootage; source (the place where something begins, where it springs into being)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

give; spring; springiness

Hypernyms ("spring" is a kind of...):

elasticity; snap (the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

bounce; bound; leap; leaping; saltation; spring

Hypernyms ("spring" is a kind of...):

jump; jumping (the act of jumping; propelling yourself off the ground)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spring"):

pounce (the act of pouncing)

caper; capriole (a playful leap or hop)

Derivation:

spring (spring back; spring away from an impact)

spring (move forward by leaps and bounds)

• SPRING (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they spring    ... he / she / it springs   
Past simple: sprang    / sprung   
Past participle: sprung   
-ing form: springing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move forward by leaps and bounds

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bound; jump; leap; spring

Context example:

Can you jump over the fence?

Hypernyms (to "spring" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spring"):

hop (make a jump forward or upward)

bounce; bound; rebound; recoil; resile; reverberate; ricochet; spring; take a hop (spring back; spring away from an impact)

caper (jump about playfully)

hop; hop-skip; skip (jump lightly)

curvet (perform a leap where both hind legs come off the ground, of a horse)

overleap; vault (jump across or leap over (an obstacle))

leapfrog (jump across)

vault (bound vigorously)

saltate (leap or skip, often in dancing)

ski jump (jump on skis)

galumph (move around heavily and clumsily)

capriole (perform a capriole, of horses in dressage)

bounce (leap suddenly)

burst (move suddenly, energetically, or violently)

pronk (jump straight up)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

spring (a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Develop into a distinctive entity

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

form; spring; take form; take shape

Context example:

our plans began to take shape

Hypernyms (to "spring" is one way to...):

become (come into existence)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spring"):

regenerate (be formed or shaped anew)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Spring back; spring away from an impact

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bounce; bound; rebound; recoil; resile; reverberate; ricochet; spring; take a hop

Context example:

These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide

Hypernyms (to "spring" is one way to...):

bound; jump; leap; spring (move forward by leaps and bounds)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spring"):

kick; kick back; recoil (spring back, as from a forceful thrust)

carom (rebound after hitting)

bound off; skip (bound off one point after another)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

spring (a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Develop suddenly

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Context example:

The tire sprang a leak

Hypernyms (to "spring" is one way to...):

acquire; develop; get; grow; produce (come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

He sprang these news on me just as I was leaving

Hypernyms (to "spring" is one way to...):

break; bring out; disclose; discover; divulge; expose; give away; let on; let out; reveal; uncover; unwrap (make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something on somebody

 Context examples 

Suddenly he raised his bearded face, saw us close to him, and pulled up, springing from his machine.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Spring it on her, and see if she understands a word of it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Six hours. We'll do them yet,” and he sprang to his feet.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The trap drove on, and a few minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Her spring of felicity was in the glow of her spirits, as her friend Anne's was in the warmth of her heart.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“Hard up, there!” Wolf Larsen shouted, himself springing to the wheel and whirling it over.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

When he heard the sound of my approach, he ceased to utter exclamations of grief and horror and sprung towards the window.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

She is coming in the spring, and I mean that you shall be all ready to see and enjoy her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They had crept in while Buck and Spitz were fighting, and when the two men sprang among them with stout clubs they showed their teeth and fought back.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

I sprang up and rang for the servant.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)