- spring
- spring1 W2S2 [sprıŋ] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(season)¦2¦(curved metal)¦3¦(water)¦4 spring in your step5 full of the joys of spring6¦(sudden jump)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1.) ¦(SEASON)¦ [U and C]the season between winter and summer when leaves and flowers appearspring of▪ the spring of 1933in/during the spring▪ It's due to open in the spring.late/early spring▪ It was a cold, sunny day in early spring.▪ spring flowers2.) ¦(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 springsb) [U]the ability of a chair, bed etc to return to its normal shape after being pressed down3.) ¦(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 stepif 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 springhappy and full of energy - used humorously6.) ¦(SUDDEN JUMP)¦ [singular]a sudden quick movement or jump in a particular direction= ↑leapspring 2spring2 v past tense sprang [spræŋ] also sprung [sprʌŋ] AmE past participle sprung▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(move suddenly)¦2¦(move back)¦3 spring to (somebody's) mind4 spring into action5 spring a surprise6 tears spring to/into somebody's eyes7 spring into existence/being8 spring a trap9 spring a leak10 spring to somebody's defence11 spring to attention12¦(help somebody escape)¦Phrasal verbsspring for somethingspring from somethingspring something on somebodyspring up▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: 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 sidewaysspring 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) mindif someone or something springs to mind, you immediately think of them▪ Two questions spring to mind.4.) spring into action also spring to/into lifeto 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 surpriseto do something surprising▪ Roy is unlikely to spring any surprises.6.) tears spring to/into sb's eyeswritten used to say that someone starts to cry7.) spring into existence/beingto suddenly begin to exist▪ A lot of small businesses sprang into existence during the 1980s.8.) spring a trapa) if an animal springs a trap, it is caught by the trapb) to make someone say or do something by tricking them9.) spring a leakif a boat or a container springs a leak, it begins to let liquid in or out through a crack or hole10.) spring to sb's defenceto quickly defend someone who is being criticized▪ Charlene sprang immediately to her son's defence.11.) spring to attentionif soldiers spring to attention, they stand suddenly upright12.) ¦(HELP SOMEBODY ESCAPE)¦ [T + from] informalto help someone escape from prisonspring for [spring for sth] phr vto pay for something▪ I'll spring for the beer tonight.spring from [spring from sth] phr vto be caused by something or start from something▪ behaviour which springs from prejudicesspring on [spring sth on sb] phr vto 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 vto suddenly appear or start to exist▪ Fast-food restaurants are springing up all over town.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.