Spur

[spɜː] or [spɝ]

Definition

(noun.) a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward; 'cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on'.

(noun.) tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers.

(noun.) any sharply pointed projection.

(verb.) goad with spurs; 'the rider spurred his horse'.

(verb.) equip with spurs; 'spur horses'.

(verb.) strike with a spur.

(verb.) give heart or courage to.

(verb.) incite or stimulate; 'The Academy was formed to spur research'.

Inputed by Conrad--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) A sparrow.

(n.) A tern.

(n.) An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs were the badge of knighthood.

(n.) That which goads to action; an incitement.

(n.) Something that projects; a snag.

(n.) One of the large or principal roots of a tree.

(n.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain burds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.

(n.) A mountain that shoots from any other mountain, or range of mountains, and extends to some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.

(n.) A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale, to strip off the blubber.

(n.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.

(n.) The short wooden buttress of a post.

(n.) A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.

(n.) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur.

(n.) Ergotized rye or other grain.

(n.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.

(n.) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.

(n.) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed.

(v. t.) To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.

(v. t.) To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive.

(v. t.) To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.

(v. i.) To spur on one' horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit.

Checked by Bertrand

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. [1]. Goad, prick, point, rowel.[2]. Incitement, stimulus, incentive, impulse, inducement, instigation, provocation, motive.[3]. Snag, point, knot, gnarl, knob, projection.[4]. Ergot, horn-seed, spurred rye.

v. a. [1]. Prick (with the spur).[2]. Stimulate, incite, rouse, arouse, goad, induce, instigate, impel, urge forward, drive.

v. n. Prick, gallop, hasten, press forward, press on.

Inputed by Cornelia

Synonyms and Antonyms

SYN:Incite, goad, Instigate, impel, urge, stimulate

ANT:Rein, inhibit, hold, discourage, deter, dissuade, restrain, temper, moderate

Typed by Bartholdi

Definition

n. an instrument on a horseman's heels with sharp points for goading the horse: that which goads or instigates: something projecting: the hard projection on a cock's leg: a small range of mountains extending laterally from a larger range.—v.t. to urge on with spurs: to urge onward: to impel: to put spurs on.—v.i. to press forward: to travel in great haste:—pr.p. spur′ring; pa.t. and pa.p. spurred.—v.t. Spur′-gall (Shak.) to gall or wound with a spur.—ns. Spur′-gear -gear′ing gearing in which spur-wheels are used.—adj. Spur′-heeled having a long straight hind-claw.—n. Spur′-leath′er the strap by which the spur is fastened to the foot.—p.adj. Spurred wearing spurs: having shoots like spurs: affected with ergot as rye.—ns. Spur′rer one who or that which spurs; Spur′rier one who makes spurs; Spur′-roy′al an ancient English coin worth fifteen shillings so called from having a star on one side resembling the rowel of a spur; Spur′-way a bridle-road; Spur′-whang,=Spur-leather; Spur′-wheel (mech.) a wheel with the cogs on the face of the edge like a spur.—adj. Spur′-winged with a horny spur on the pinion as with the plovers &c."

Checked by Gardner

Unserious Contents or Definition

To dream of wearing spurs, denotes that you will engage in some unpleasant controversy. To see others with them on, foretells that enmity is working you trouble.

Editor: Melinda

Examples

Mr. Edison himself supplies the following data: During the electric-railway experiments at Menlo Park, we had a short spur of track up one of the steep gullies. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
It may surprise you to hear that what he really did to the marriage register was done on the spur of the moment--done on second thoughts. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
It needed not this last account to spur me on to visit him. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
On the spur of the moment, I saw no better way out of it than the way I took. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
My horse grew tired--and I, forgetful of his fatigue, still as he lagged, cheered him with my voice, and urged him with the spur. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
Preserve her--for her own sake I know that you will--if you require any other spur, think that, in preserving her, you preserve me. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
It is such a spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
I spurred my horse, who addressed his free limbs to speed, and tossed his gallant head in pride. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
No other art was spurred to activity by such strong incentives, and none received the same encouragement and reward for its development. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
The sword overhung the emperor and spurred him to incessant activity. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
At other times I spurred on the animal before my companions, that I might forget them, the world, and, more than all, myself. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
Encouraged by his wife’s great interest, and spurred on by the passion for invention, Gutenberg now set himself seriously to study the problem of engraving. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
Turning their horses, therefore, at the same moment, the Norman spurred against the Disinherited Knight on the one side, and the Saxon on the other. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
Still as I narrated, instead of checking, he incited me to proceed he spurred me by the gesture, the smile, the half-word. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
It was indeed De Bracy--bloody with spurring, fiery red with speed. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
On these occasions he wore his dress uniform, cocked hat, aiguillettes, sabre and spurs. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
Besides the fortifications on Mission Ridge, there was a line at the base of the hill, with occasional spurs of rifle-pits half-way up the front. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
And then on the very wound the bright spurs came down, pressing relentlessly. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
Burnside seeing us, came up on the porch, his big spurs and saber rattling as he walked. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
To follow each of these spurs with intrenchments, so as to command the slopes on either side, would have lengthened their line very much. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
No spurs were necessary. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
I long for sleeve-buttons; and the Captain's boots with brass spurs, in the next room, corbleu! William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.

Editor: Martin