/ spɜː(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a sharp pointed object that riders sometimes wear on the heels of their boots and use to encourage their horse to go faster
2.
[ usually sing. ] spur (to sth) a fact or an event that makes you want to do sth better or more quickly
SYN motivation :
His speech was a powerful spur to action.
3.
an area of high ground that sticks out from a mountain or hill
4.
a road or a railway / railroad track that leads from the main road or line
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IDIOMS
- on the spur of the moment
- win / earn your spurs
■ verb ( -rr- ) [ vn ]
1.
spur sb/sth (on) (to sth / to do sth) to encourage sb to do sth or to encourage them to try harder to achieve sth :
Her difficult childhood spurred her on to succeed.
I was spurred into action by the letter.
The band has been spurred on by the success of their last single.
2.
to make sth happen faster or sooner :
The agreement is essential to spurring economic growth around the world.
3.
to encourage a horse to go faster, especially by pushing the spurs on your boots into its side
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English spora , spura , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch spoor and German Sporn , also to spurn .