spur

1 of 2

noun

ˈspər 

1

a

: a pointed device secured to a rider's heel and used to urge on the horse

b

spurs plural [from the acquisition of spurs by a person achieving knighthood] : recognition and reward for achievement

won his academic spurs as the holder of a chair in a university

—James Mountford

2

: a goad to action : stimulus

3

: something projecting like or suggesting a spur: such as

a

: a projecting root or branch of a tree, shrub, or vine

b(1)

: a stiff sharp spine (as on the wings or legs of a bird or insect)

especially : one on a cock's leg

(2)

: a gaff for a gamecock

c

: a hollow projecting appendage of a corolla or calyx (as in larkspur or columbine)

d

: bone spur

e

: climbing iron

4

a

: an angular projection, offshoot, or branch extending out beyond or away from a main body or formation

especially : a ridge or lesser elevation that extends laterally from a mountain or mountain range

b

: a railroad track that branches off from a main line

5

: a reinforcing buttress of masonry in a fortification

spur

2 of 2

verb

spurred; spurring

transitive verb

1

: to urge (a horse) on with spurs

2

: to incite to action or accelerated growth or development : stimulate

3

: to put spurs on

intransitive verb

: to spur one's horse on

Phrases

on the spur of the moment

: on impulse : suddenly

Synonyms

Noun

• boost
• encouragement
• goad
• impetus
• impulse
• incentive
• incitation
• incitement
• instigation
• momentum
• motivation
• provocation
• stimulant
• stimulus
• yeast

Verb

• dig
• goad
• prod

Choose the Right Synonym for spur

motive, impulse, incentive, inducement, spur, goad mean a stimulus to action.

motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.

a motive for the crime

impulse suggests a driving power arising from personal temperament or constitution.

buying on impulse

incentive applies to an external influence (such as an expected reward) inciting to action.

a bonus was offered as an incentive

inducement suggests a motive prompted by the deliberate enticements or allurements of another.

offered a watch as an inducement to subscribe

spur applies to a motive that stimulates the faculties or increases energy or ardor.

fear was a spur to action

goad suggests a motive that keeps one going against one's will or desire.

thought insecurity a goad to worker efficiency

Examples of spur in a Sentence

Noun

the threat of losing its only sports franchise was the spur the city council needed to finally do something about the rising crime rate

a weak wall that might need a spur

Verb

The reward spurred them to work harder.

Lower interest rates should spur economic growth.

He spurred the horse onward.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Finbar is the longtime gunfighter who works by a strict moral code, looking to finally hang up his spurs and domesticate himself. —Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Humble country touchstones—banjo licks, lyrics about boots and spurs—are stitched, with seams showing, to dizzying dance beats, lushly stacked vocal harmonies, and cartoonishly giddy raps and chants. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024

An exception would be this bridle leather belt from Tory Leather, which sports a gold-tone brass fastening in the shape of a spur. —Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024

His spur caught on the flag or on the picture wire of a George Washington frame print. —Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024

The spur for action is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Shields Ready campaign, announced in November 2022 to build on its Shields Up initiative, which was a response to the alarming increase of ransomware and other attacks on critical infrastructure. —Brian Contos, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

Next, lay the tenderloins horizontally down the middle and add the optional claw to one side, leaving the spur and claw outside the puff pastry, exposed. —The Editors, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024

The rodeo alliance disagrees with the claim that animals are being harmed at any local events, saying no local groups use electric prods, sharpened spurs or other equipment or techniques criticized by animal rights groups. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024

And as the first two song releases make clear with banjos, stomps and claps, and references to spurs, boots, and long back roads, this is a country record. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2024

Verb

Frustration with Meta’s support has spurred the development of an active grassroots help community on Reddit with 13,000 members, r/facebookdisabledme. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024

Trump's attacks spurred Merchan to expand a gag order to limit his commentary about the family members of people involved in the trial. —Ben Adler, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

The decision has spurred a thirty-five-per-cent rise in union-election petitions since last October. —Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024

This week: The first weekend of Coachella spurs gains for a lot of the biggest and most ascendant names involved, while songs that soundtracked the biggest moments of Wrestlemania XL also see big bumps, a Cowboy Carter collaborator has his first solo breakout hit and more. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2024

This would spur further investment and create a virtuous cycle of AI growth and public impact. —Victor Riparbelli, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024

My decision to come forward helped spur a new era in women’s soccer in the U.S.—but globally, soccer is still controlled by men. —TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Several of Hutchins’ peers in the film industry said that the sentence will send a message to the industry that could spur improvements to set safety. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Apr. 2024

The Biden administration recently announced that $63 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding would be used to spur domestic manufacturing of heat pumps, and local, state and federal incentives have been deployed in most jurisdictions nationwide to encourage consumers to make the switch. —Andrew Heath, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English spure, from Old English spura; akin to Old English spurnan to kick — more at spurn entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing spur

• bone spur
• on the spur of the moment
• spur gear
• spur-of-the-moment

Kids Definition

spur

1 of 2 noun

ˈspər 

1

a

: a pointed device fastened to the back of a rider's boot and used to urge a horse on

b

plural : recognition for achievement

2

: something that makes one want to do something : incentive

3

a

: a stiff sharp pointed part (as a horny spine on the leg of a rooster)

b

: a hollow flower part that sticks out especially on a petal (as of a columbine) or on a sepal (as of a larkspur)

4

: a mass of jagged rock coming out from the side of a mountain

5

: a short section of railway track coming away from the main line

spur

2 of 2 verb

spurred; spurring

1

: to urge a horse on with spurs

2

: to move to action : incite, stimulate

Medical Definition

spur

noun

ˈspər 

1

: a projection from an anatomical part : calcar

2

: bone spur

painful heel spurs

spurred

ˈspərd 

adjective