Main Entry: ¹spring

Pronunciation: \ˈspriŋ\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): sprang \ˈspraŋ\ or sprung \ˈsprəŋ\; sprung; spring·ing \ˈspriŋ-iŋ\

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English springan; akin to Old High German springan to jump and perhaps to Greek sperchesthai to hasten

Date: before 12th century

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>.