spring

spring¹ W2S2 [sprıŋ] n

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1¦(season)¦

2¦(curved metal)¦

3¦(water)¦

4 spring in your step

5 full of the joys of spring

6¦(sudden jump)¦

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1.) ¦(SEASON)¦ [U and C]

the season between winter and summer when leaves and flowers appear

spring of

▪ the spring of 1933

in/during the spring

▪ It's due to open in the spring.

late/early spring

▪ It was a cold, sunny day in early spring.

▪ spring flowers

2.) ¦(CURVED METAL)¦

a) [C usually plural]

something, usually a twisted piece of metal, that will return to its previous shape after it has been pressed down

▪ an old armchair with broken springs

b) [U]

the ability of a chair, bed etc to return to its normal shape after being pressed down

3.) ¦(WATER)¦

a place where water comes up naturally from the ground

▪ spring water

▪ There are several hot springs in the area.

4.) spring in your step

if you walk with a spring in your step, you move quickly and happily

▪ As he walked into the office that morning, there was a spring in his step.

5.) full of the joys of spring

happy and full of energy - used humorously

6.) ¦(SUDDEN JUMP)¦ [singular]

a sudden quick movement or jump in a particular direction

= ↑leap

spring ²

spring² v past tense sprang [spræŋ] also sprung [sprʌŋ] AmE past participle sprung

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1¦(move suddenly)¦

2¦(move back)¦

3 spring to (somebody's) mind

4 spring into action

5 spring a surprise

6 tears spring to/into somebody's eyes

7 spring into existence/being

8 spring a trap

9 spring a leak

10 spring to somebody's defence

11 spring to attention

12¦(help somebody escape)¦

Phrasal verbs

　spring for something

　spring from something

　spring something on somebody

　spring up

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[: Old English; Origin: springan]

1.) ¦(MOVE SUDDENLY)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition]

to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, especially by jumping

= ↑leap spring out of/from

▪ Tom sprung out of bed and ran downstairs.

spring out at sb

▪ Two men sprang out at me as I was walking through the park.

▪ He sprang to his feet (=stood up suddenly) and rushed after her.

spring to sb's aid/assistance

(=move quickly to help someone)

▪ One of the young policemen sprang to her assistance.

2.) ¦(MOVE BACK)¦ [I always + adverb/preposition]

if something springs back, open etc, it moves quickly, suddenly and with force, especially after being pushed down or sideways

spring back/up

▪ The branch sprang back and hit him in the face.

spring open/shut

▪ The gate sprang shut behind them.

3.) spring to (sb's) mind

if someone or something springs to mind, you immediately think of them

▪ Two questions spring to mind.

4.) spring into action also spring to/into life

to suddenly become active, start moving or start working

▪ They were prepared and ready to spring into action.

▪ Finally the engine sprang to life.

5.) spring a surprise

to do something surprising

▪ Roy is unlikely to spring any surprises.

6.) tears spring to/into sb's eyes

written used to say that someone starts to cry

7.) spring into existence/being

to suddenly begin to exist

▪ A lot of small businesses sprang into existence during the 1980s.

8.) spring a trap

a) if an animal springs a trap, it is caught by the trap

b) to make someone say or do something by tricking them

9.) spring a leak

if a boat or a container springs a leak, it begins to let liquid in or out through a crack or hole

10.) spring to sb's defence

to quickly defend someone who is being criticized

▪ Charlene sprang immediately to her son's defence.

11.) spring to attention

if soldiers spring to attention, they stand suddenly upright

12.) ¦(HELP SOMEBODY ESCAPE)¦ [T + from] informal

to help someone escape from prison

spring for [spring for sth] phr v

to pay for something

▪ I'll spring for the beer tonight.

spring from [spring from sth] phr v

to be caused by something or start from something

▪ behaviour which springs from prejudices

spring on [spring sth on sb] phr v

to tell someone something or ask them to do something when they do not expect it and are not ready for it

▪ It's not fair to spring this on her without any warning.

spring up phr v

to suddenly appear or start to exist

▪ Fast-food restaurants are springing up all over town.