spring

23 entries found for spring. The first 10 are listed below.
To select an entry, click on it. For more results, click here.

spring[1,verb] spring[2,noun] spring[3,transitive verb] box spring hot spring leaf spring spiral spring spring beauty spring bolt spring chicken

Main Entry: ¹spring
Pronunciation: 'spri[ng]
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): sprang /'spra[ng] /; or sprung /'spr&[ng]/; sprung; spring·ing /'spri[ng]-i[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English springan; akin to Old High German springan to jump and perhaps to Greek sperchesthai to hasten
intransitive verb
1 a (1) : DART, SHOOT <sparks sprang out from the fire> (2) : to be resilient or elastic; also : to move by elastic force <the lid sprang shut> b : to become warped
2 : to issue with speed and force or as a stream <tears spring from our eyes>
3 a : to grow as a plant b : to issue by birth or descent <sprang from the upper class> c : to come into being : ARISE <towns sprang up across the plains> d archaic : DAWN e : to begin to blow -- used with up <a breeze quickly sprang up>
4 a : to make a leap or series of leaps <springing across the lawn> b : to leap or jump up suddenly <sprang from their seats>
5 : to stretch out in height : RISE
6 : PAY -- used with for <I'll spring for the drinks>
transitive verb
1 : to cause to spring
2 a : to undergo or bring about the splitting or cracking of <wind sprang the mast> b : to undergo the opening of (a leak)
3 a : to cause to operate suddenly <spring a trap> b : to apply or insert by bending c : to bend by force
4 : to leap over
5 : to produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly
6 : to make lame
7 : to release or cause to be released from confinement or custody <sprung them from jail>
synonyms SPRING, ARISE, RISE, ORIGINATE, DERIVE, FLOW, ISSUE, EMANATE, PROCEED, STEM mean to come up or out of something into existence. SPRING implies rapid or sudden emerging <an idea that springs to mind>. ARISE and RISE may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but RISE often stresses gradual growth or ascent <new questions have arisen> <slowly rose to prominence>. ORIGINATE implies a definite source or starting point <the fire originated in the basement>. DERIVE implies a prior existence in another form <the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast>. FLOW adds to SPRING a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception <words flowed easily from her pen>. ISSUE suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet <blood issued from the cut>. EMANATE applies to the coming of something immaterial (as a thought) from a source <reports emanating from the capital>. PROCEED stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause <advice that proceeds from the best of intentions>. STEM implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development <industries stemming from space research>.