spur
1a 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.
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.
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. bone spur.
a sharp piercing or cutting instrument fastened to the leg of a gamecock in cockfighting; gaff.
anything resembling this instrument; a sharp projection or attachment.
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.
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.
Ceramics. a triangular support of refractory clay for an object being fired.
Railroads. spur track.
to prick or urge with or as if with a spur or spurs; incite or drive (often used with on): The rider spurred his mount into a wild gallop.Their encouragement spurred her on to achieve even more.
(of a gamecock) to strike or wound with a spur.
to furnish with spurs or a spur.
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.
to proceed hurriedly; press forward: We spurred onward through the night.
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
1Other words for spur
Opposites for spur
Other words from spur
- spur·less, adjective
- spur·like, adjective
- spur·rer, noun
Other definitions for spur (2 of 2)
a batch of newly made rag-paper sheets.
Origin of spur
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for spur
/ (spɜː) /
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 encourage: the 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 road: a 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
(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
Origin of spur
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with spur
In addition to the idiom beginning with spur
- spur on
also see:
- on the spur of the moment
- win one's spurs
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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