SPUR (spurred, spurring)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: spurred    , spurring   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spur mean? 

• SPUR (noun)
  The noun SPUR has 5 senses:

1. a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

2. any sharply pointed projection

3. tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers

4. a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward

5. a railway line connected to a trunk line

  Familiarity information: SPUR used as a noun is common.

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

1. incite or stimulate

2. give heart or courage to

3. strike with a spur

4. goad with spurs

5. equip with spurs

  Familiarity information: SPUR used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPUR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

goad; goading; prod; prodding; spur; spurring; urging

Context example:

the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves

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

encouragement (the expression of approval and support)

Derivation:

spur (give heart or courage to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any sharply pointed projection

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

acantha; spine; spur

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

projection (any solid convex shape that juts out from something)

Derivation:

spur (strike with a spur)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

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

enation; plant process (a natural projection or outgrowth from a plant body or organ)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

gad; spur

Context example:

cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on

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

goad; prod (a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion)

Meronyms (parts of "spur"):

rowel (a small spiked wheel at the end of a spur)

Holonyms ("spur" is a part of...):

boot (footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg)

Derivation:

spur (goad with spurs)

spur (equip with spurs)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A railway line connected to a trunk line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

branch line; spur; spur track

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

line; rail line; railway line (the road consisting of railroad track and roadbed)

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

loop-line (a railway branch line that branches from the trunk line and then rejoins it later on)

• SPUR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they spur    ... he / she / it spurs   
Past simple: spurred   
Past participle: spurred   
-ing form: spurring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Incite or stimulate

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

The Academy was formed to spur research

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

advance; boost; encourage; further; promote (contribute to the progress or growth of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

spurring (a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give heart or courage to

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

goad; spur

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

encourage (inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

spur (a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Strike with a spur

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

strike (deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon)

"Spur" entails doing...:

injure; wound (cause injuries or bodily harm to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

spur (any sharply pointed projection)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Goad with spurs

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

the rider spurred his horse

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

goad (urge with or as if with a goad)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

spur (a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Equip with spurs

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

spur horses

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

equip; fit; fit out; outfit (provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

spur (a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward)

 Context examples 

What spurs this response is a mystery, but now a study on mice suggests that bacteria in the gut may provide a kind of training ground for immune cells to attack the eye.

(In uveitis, bacteria in gut may instruct immune cells to attack the eye, NIH)

I look at the time, and I resolve that not until midnight, or not until one o'clock, or two o'clock, or three o'clock, shall the spur be removed.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Had not our minds been made up, and had there not been terrible memories to spur us on, we could hardly have proceeded with our task.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It is such a spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Tom had leaped at the sound, like a horse at the spur, but Silver had not winked an eye.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Over time the stress can cause bone spurs and deformities.

(Heel Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

“The smaller cock, my Lord Audley, may have the longer spur,” remarked the Captal de Buch.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The engineered mice also developed atherosclerosis that was spurred by monocytes lacking vitamin D receptors.

(How Vitamin D May Affect Heart Disease, Diabetes, NIH)

However, in the context of AMD, harmful effects observed from complement activation have spurred clinical trials testing complement inhibitors.

(Immune system can slow degenerative eye disease, National Institutes of Health)

Allergies and anaphylaxis are linked to the production of high levels of high-affinity IgE antibodies, which bind strongly to allergens to spur allergic reactions.

(Scientists discover immune cell subtype in mice that drives allergic reactions, National Institutes of Health)