SPRING


Meaning of SPRING in English

I. spring 1 S2 W2 /sprɪŋ/ BrE AmE noun

1 . SEASON [uncountable and countable] 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) [countable 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) [uncountable] the ability of a chair, bed etc to return to its normal shape after being pressed down

3 . WATER [countable] 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 SYN leap

II. spring 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense sprang /spræŋ/ or sprung /sprʌŋ/ American English , past participle sprung )

[ Language: Old English ; Origin: springan ]

1 . MOVE SUDDENLY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, especially by jumping SYN leap

spring out of/from

Tom sprung out of bed and ran downstairs.

spring out at somebody

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.

REGISTER

Spring is used mostly in literature. In everyday English, people usually say jump :

He jumped out of bed.

2 . MOVE BACK [intransitive 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 [transitive + from] informal to help someone escape from prison

spring for something phrasal verb American English informal

to pay for something:

I’ll spring for the beer tonight.

spring from something phrasal verb spoken

to be caused by something or start from something:

behaviour which springs from prejudices

spring something on somebody phrasal verb

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 phrasal verb

to suddenly appear or start to exist:

Fast-food restaurants are springing up all over town.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.