[spring] vb sprang or sprung ; sprung ; spring.ing [ME, fr. OE springan; akin to OHG springan to jump and perh. to Gk sperchesthai to hasten] vi (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): dart, shoot (2): to be resilient or elastic; also: to move by elastic force "the lid sprang shut" b: to become warped
2: to issue with speed and force or as a stream 3 a: to grow as a plant b: to issue by birth or descent c: to come into being: arise "towns sprang up across the plains" d archaic: dawn e: to begin to blow--used with up "a breeze quickly sprang up"
4. a: to make a leap or series of leaps b: to leap or jump up suddenly
5: to stretch out in height: rise
6: pay--used with for "I'll ~ for the drinks" ~ vt 1: to cause to spring
2. a: to undergo or bring about the splitting or cracking of "wind sprang the mast" b: to undergo the opening of (a leak) 3 a: to cause to operate suddenly "~ a trap" b: to apply or insert by bending c: to bend by force
4: to leap over
5: to produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly
6: to make lame 7: to release or cause to be released from confinement or custody syn spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence. spring implies rapid or sudden emerging "an idea that springs to mind". arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent "new questions have arisen" "slowly rose to prominence". originate implies a definite source or starting point "the fire originated in the basement". derive implies a prior existence in another form "the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast". flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception "words flowed easily from her pen". issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet "blood issued from the cut". emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (as a thought) from a source "reports emanating from the capital". proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause "advice that proceeds from the best of intentions". stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development "industr
[2]spring n, often attrib (bef. 12c) 1 a: a source of supply; esp: a source of water issuing from the ground b: an ultimate source esp. of action or motion
2: spring tide
3: a time or season of growth or development; specif: the season between winter and summer comprising in the northern hemisphere usu. the months of March, April, and May or as reckoned astronomically extending from the March equinox to the June solstice
4: an elastic body or device that recovers its original shape when released after being distorted
5. a: the act or an instance of leaping up or forward: bound b (1): capacity for springing: resilience (2): energy, bounce
6: the point or plane at which an arch or vault curve springs from its impost -- spring.like adj [3]spring vt sprung ; spring.ing (1884): to fit with springs