spring

Less common meanings

8. 8
   a leapnouncountable

   A quick jump, especially one that starts suddenly.

   With one spring, the cat landed on top of the fence.

   The frog made a sudden spring from the rock into the pond.

   Similarleap, jump, bound, pounce, vault

9. 9
   pay forverbtransitive

   To pay an amount of money for something, often as a treat.

   Grandma sprang for ice cream after the school play.

   Let's spring for the big popcorn this time.

   UsageSay spring for something: let's spring for pizza.

   Similarspend, pay, splurge, blow

   Note
10. 10
    surprise withverbtransitive

    To tell someone something suddenly, without warning them first.

    Don't spring big news on me right before bed.

    She sprang the surprise party plan on us at lunch.

    UsageSay spring something on someone: spring the news on them.

    Similardrop, thrust

    Note
11. 11
    free (jail)verbslangUStransitive

    To get someone out of jail or prison, often by breaking the rules.

    His brother tried to spring him from the county jail.

    The gang sprang their leader the night before the trial.

    UsageSay spring someone from jail.

    Similarfree, release

    Oppositeimprison, jail, incarcerate

    Note
12. 12
    sproutverbintransitive

    To start to grow, like a plant coming up from the ground.

    Weeds spring from every crack in the sidewalk after it rains.

    Green shoots sprang up in the garden after the rain.

    UsageSay plants spring up.

    Similarsprout, grow, shoot, emerge

    Note
13. 13
    bouncenouncountable or uncountable

    The power in something that lets it bounce back after you press or bend it.

    This diving board has so much spring that it throws you high into the air.

    A slingshot needs plenty of spring to send a pebble flying.

    UsageSomeone with a spring in their step walks with energy.

    Similarflex, bounce, elasticity, springiness, resilience

    Oppositestiffness, rigidity

    Note
14. 14
    early stagenounfigurativelyuncountable

    The early time of something, when it is new and still growing.

    In the spring of her career, she took every job she could find.

    In the spring of their marriage, they had little money but big dreams.

    UsageUsually the spring of something: the spring of life.

    Similardawn, springtime, morning, infancy, beginning

    Oppositetwilight, autumn

    Note
15. 15
    trip (trap)verbtransitive

    To make a trap or lock work suddenly by pressing or pulling it.

    The mouse sprang the trap but got away with the cheese.

    Be careful not to spring the latch while you carry the box.

    UsageSay spring a trap.

    Similartrigger, trip, force, pick

    Note
16. 16
    originnouncountable

    The starting point or cause of something.

    As wel the singers as the players on instruments shall bee there: all my springs are in thee.

    1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version

    Similarimpetus, impulse

    Note
17. 17
    come aliveverbfigurativelyintransitive

    To suddenly become full of life and energy.

    Quiet streets spring to life when the night market opens.

    The dance floor sprang to life when the band returned.

    UsageSay spring to life.

    Similarcome, burst

18. 18
    fit coilsverbraretransitive

    To put metal springs on something, like a car, so it rides smoothly.

    This car is softly sprung, so it rides smoothly over bumps.

    The old carriage was badly sprung, so every bump hurt.

    UsageOften softly sprung or badly sprung, about cars.

    Note
19. 19
    high tidenouncountable or uncountableabbreviationellipsis

    Short for spring tide. A tide near a new or full moon, with higher highs and lower lows than usual.

    Boats can only cross the sandbar at springs, when the tide is highest.

    The tide runs very fast at springs, so be careful in small boats.

    Note
20. 20
    blow apartverbintransitive

    To break apart or blow up suddenly into pieces.

    On the 22nd the mines sprang, and took very good effect.

    1698, François Froger, A Relation of a Voyage Made... on the Coasts of AfricaHere, sprang means blew up, so the mines exploded.

    Similarburst, explode, shatter, blow

    Note
21. 21
    verbtransitive or intransitive

    To bend out of shape or crack because of too much pressure.

    After the crash, the car door had sprung and would not close.

    Cheap boards often spring and twist as they dry.

    Similarwarp, buckle, bend, crack, split

    Note
22. 22
    verbtransitive

    To find an animal that is hiding and make it run or fly out.

    The dog sprang a rabbit from the tall grass.

    Hunters spring birds from the bushes so the birds fly up into the open.

    Similarflush, rouse

    Note
23. 23
    erectionnounslangcountable

    A slang word for an erect penis.

    UsageIn formal or medical talk, say erection.

    Similarerection, boner

    Note
24. 24
    noun

    A rope from the side or end of a boat to its anchor line, used to control how the boat moves.
25. 25
    verbdialectalUK

    To become fully grown or ripe.
26. 26
    verbobsolete

    To get a higher place in society or the armed forces.
27. 27
    verbobsolete

    Of a male horse, to mate with a female.
28. 28
    verbobsolete

    To make something a little wet.
29. 29
    verbobsolete

    Of a mine or bomb, to blow up.

    The whole contraption appears liable to spring apart at any moment.

    2012, Sydney Morning Herald
30. 30
    verbslangAustralia

    To find someone doing something wrong.
31. 31
    verbobsolete

    To start, like the day at sunrise.
32. 32
    verbobsolete

    To use fake money.
33. 33
    verbslang

    To get out of jail, often by escaping.
34. 34
    verb

    To start building the curved part of an arch.
35. 35
    verb

    Of an arch, to rise and bend in a curve.
36. 36
    verb

    To make a boat face another way using a rope and its anchor.
37. 37
    verbobsolete

    To offer more money than before.
38. 38
    verbdialectalUS

    To hurt a joint by twisting it.
39. 39
    verbdialectalUS

    To hurt a muscle by using it too hard.
40. 40
    verbobsolete

    To make someone want to do something.
41. 41
    verbdialectalUK

    Of a female animal, to get big before giving birth.
42. 42
    verbarchaic

    To make a rattle make its noise.

    I do not know how John and his mistress would have settled the fate of the thief, but just at this moment a policeman entered — for the cook had sprung the rattle, and had been screaming "Murder" and "Thieves."

    1850, Samuel Prout Newcombe, Pleasant pages
43. 43
    verb

    Of animals, to find enough to eat after winter.
44. 44
    noun

    The season from about March 21 to about June 21 in the north.
45. 45
    noun

    The season from March to May north of the equator, or September to November south of it.
46. 46
    noun

    A person with light skin and fairly light hair and eyes, in a fashion color system.
47. 47
    nounobsolete

    The sea coming up when the tide is high.
48. 48
    noun

    A mooring rope angled forward or back from a ship, stopping it sliding along a dock or ship.
49. 49
    noun

    A family and the people it came from.
50. 50
    noun

    A young person.
51. 51
    noun

    A fresh shoot on a plant, or a tree that is still young.
52. 52
    noun

    A small wood.
53. 53
    nounobsolete

    A crack in a ship's mast or wood.

    A spar is said to be sprung, when it is cracked or split,... and the crack is called a spring.

    1846, Arthur Young, Nautical Dictionary
54. 54
    noun

    The reason something happens.
55. 55
    nounobsolete

    A quick, cheerful tune.
56. 56
    verb

    To stay somewhere for the season after winter.