/ sprɪŋ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
SEASON
1.
[ U , C ] the season between winter and summer when plants begin to grow :
flowers that bloom in spring / in the spring
He was born in the spring of 1944.
There's a feeling of spring in the air today.
spring flowers
TWISTED WIRE
2.
[ C ] a twisted piece of metal that can be pushed, pressed or pulled but which always returns to its original shape or position afterwards :
bed springs
3.
[ U ] the ability of a spring to return to its original position :
The mattress has lost its spring.
WATER
4.
[ C ] a place where water comes naturally to the surface from under the ground :
a mountain spring
spring water
CHEERFUL QUALITY
5.
[ U , sing. ] a cheerful, lively quality :
She walked along with a spring in her step .
SUDDEN JUMP
6.
[ C ] a quick sudden jump upwards or forwards :
With a spring, the cat leapt on to the table.
•
IDIOMS
see joy
■ verb
( sprang / spræŋ; NAmE / sprung / sprʌŋ; NAmE /) ( NAmE also sprung , sprung )
JUMP / MOVE SUDDENLY
1.
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ] ( of a person or an animal ) to move suddenly and with one quick movement in a particular direction
SYN leap :
He turned off the alarm and sprang out of bed.
Everyone sprang to their feet (= stood up suddenly) when the principal walked in.
The cat crouched ready to spring.
( figurative )
to spring to sb's defence / assistance (= to quickly defend or help sb)
2.
( of an object ) to move suddenly and violently :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
The branch sprang back and hit him in the face.
[ v - adj ]
She turned the key and the lid sprang open.
SURPRISE
3.
[ vn ] spring sth (on sb) to do sth, ask sth or say sth that sb is not expecting :
She sprang a surprise by winning the tournament.
I'm sorry to spring it on you , but I've been offered another job.
APPEAR SUDDENLY
4.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to appear or come somewhere suddenly :
Tears sprang to her eyes.
FREE PRISONER
5.
[ vn ] ( informal ) to help a prisoner to escape :
Plans to spring the hostages have failed.
•
IDIOMS
- spring into action | spring into / to life
- spring a leak
- spring a trap
—more at hope noun , mind noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- spring for sth
- spring from sth
- spring from ...
- spring up
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English spring (noun), springan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German springen . Early use in the senses head of a well and rush out in a stream gave rise to the figurative use originate .