spring

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 verb1 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 warped2: 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> darchaic : 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 : rise6: pay —used with for<I'll spring for the drinks>transitive verb1: to cause to spring2 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 force4: to leap over5: to produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly6: to make lame7: 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>.

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