to rise, leap, move, or act suddenly and swiftly, as by a sudden dart or thrust forward or outward, or being suddenly released from a coiled or constrained position: to spring into the air; a tiger about to spring.
2.
to be released from a constrained position, as by resilient or elastic force or from the action of a spring: A trap springs. The door sprang open and in he walked.
3.
to issue forth suddenly, as water, blood, sparks, fire, etc. (often fol. by forth, out, or up): Blood sprang from the wound.
4.
to come into being, rise, or arise within a short time (usually fol. by up): Industries sprang up in the suburbs.
5.
to come into being by growth, as from a seed or germ, bulb, root, etc.; grow, as plants.
6.
to proceed or originate from a specific source or cause.
7.
to have as one's birth or lineage; be descended, as from a person, family, stock, etc.; come from: to spring from ancient aristocracy.
8.
to rise or extend upward, as a spire.
9.
to take an upward course or curve from a point of support, as an arch.
10.
to come or appear suddenly, as if at a bound: An objection sprang to mind.
11.
to start or rise from cover, as a pheasant, woodcock, or the like.
12.
to become bent or warped, as boards.
13.
to shift or work loose, as parts of a mechanism, structure, etc.: The board sprang from the fence during the storm.
14.
to explode, as a mine.
15.
Archaic. to begin to appear, as day, light, etc.; dawn.
–verb (used with object)
16.
to cause to spring.
17.
to cause to fly back, move, or act, as by resiliency, elastic force, a spring, etc.: to spring a lock.
18.
to cause to shift out of place, work loose, warp, split, or crack: Moisture sprang the board from the fence.
19.
to split or crack: The ship sprang its keel on a rock.
20.
to develop by or as by splitting or cracking: The boat sprang a leak.
21.
to bend by force, or force in by bending, as a resilient slat or bar.
22.
to stretch or bend (a spring or other resilient device) beyond its elastic tolerance: This clip has been sprung.
23.
to bring out, disclose, produce, make, etc., suddenly: to spring a joke.
24.
to leap over.
25.
Slang. to secure the release of (someone) from confinement, as of jail, military service, or the like.
26.
Nautical. to move (a vessel) into or out of a berth by pulling on the offshore end of a warp made fast to the pier.
27.
to explode (a mine).
–noun
28.
a leap, jump, or bound.
29.
a sudden movement caused by the release of something elastic.
30.
an elastic or bouncing quality: There is a spring in his walk.
31.
elasticity or resilience: This board has spring in it.
32.
a structural defect or injury caused by a warp, crack, etc.
33.
an issue of water from the earth, taking the form, on the surface, of a small stream or standing as a pool or small lake.
34.
the place of such an issue: mineral springs.
35.
a source or fountainhead of something: a spring of inspiration.
36.
an elastic contrivance or body, as a strip or wire of steel coiled spirally, that recovers its shape after being compressed, bent, or stretched.
37.
the season between winter and summer: in the Northern Hemisphere from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice; in the Southern Hemisphere from the autumnal equinox to the winter solstice.
38.
(in temperate zones) the season of the year following winter and characterized by the budding of trees, growth of plants, the onset of warmer weather, etc.
39.
the first stage and freshest period: the spring of life.
the point at which an arch or dome rises from its support.
b.
the rise or the angle of the rise of an arch.
42.
Archaic. the dawn, as of day, light, etc.
–adjective
43.
of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for the season of spring: spring flowers.
44.
resting on or containing mechanical springs.
—Verb phrase
45.
spring for, Informal. to pay for; treat someone to.
Origin: bef. 900; (v.) ME springen, OE springan; c. D, G springen, ON springa; (n.) ME spring(e), OE spring, spryng issue of a stream; cf. MLG, OHG, Dan, Sw spring
spring (sprĭng) v.
sprang (sprāng) or sprung (sprŭng), sprung, spring·ing, springs
v.
intr.
To move upward or forward in a single quick motion or a series of such motions; leap.
To move suddenly on or as if on a spring: The door sprang shut. The emergency room team sprang into action.
To appear or come into being quickly: New businesses were springing up rapidly. See Synonyms at stem1.
To issue or emerge suddenly: A cry sprang from her lips. A thought springs to mind.
To extend or curve upward, as an arch.
To arise from a source; develop.
To become warped, split, or cracked. Used of wood.
To move out of place; come loose, as parts of a mechanism.
Slang To pay another's expenses: He offered to spring for the dinner.
v.
tr.
To cause to leap, dart, or come forth suddenly.
To jump over; vault.
To release from a checked or inoperative position; actuate: spring a trap.
To cause to warp, split, or crack, as a mast.
To bend by force.
To present or disclose unexpectedly or suddenly: "He sprung on the world this novel approach to political journalism"(Curtis Wilkie).
Slang To cause to be released from prison or other confinement.
n.
An elastic device, such as a coil of wire, that regains its original shape after being compressed or extended.
An actuating force or factor; a motive.
Elasticity; resilience.
Energetic bounce: a spring to one's step.
The season of the year, occurring between winter and summer, during which the weather becomes warmer and plants revive, extending in the Northern Hemisphere from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice and popularly considered to comprise March, April, and May.
A time of growth and renewal.
The act or an instance of jumping or leaping.
A usually rapid return to normal shape after removal of stress; recoil.
A small stream of water flowing naturally from the earth.
A source, origin, or beginning.
The season of the year, occurring between winter and summer, during which the weather becomes warmer and plants revive, extending in the Northern Hemisphere from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice and popularly considered to comprise March, April, and May.
A time of growth and renewal.
A warping, bending, or cracking, as that caused by excessive force.
Architecture The point at which an arch or vault rises from its support.
adj.
Of or acting like a spring; resilient.
Having or supported by springs: a spring mattress.
Of, relating to, occurring in, or appropriate to the season of spring: spring showers; spring planting.
Grown during the season of spring: spring crops.
[Middle English springen, from Old English springan. N., Middle English springe, from Old English spring, wellspring.]
Main Entry: spring Pronunciation: 'spri[ng] Function: noun : any of various elastic orthodontic devices used especially to apply constant pressure tomisaligned teeth
A device, such as a coil of wire, that returns to its original shape after being compressed or stretched. Because of their ability to return to their original shape, springs are used to store energy, as in mechanical clocks, and to absorb or lessen energy, as in the suspension system of vehicles.
A small stream of water flowing naturally from the Earth.
[sprang] 
