SPRING

(MOVE QUICKLY) [verb] [past simple] sprang or ANZ, US also sprung, [past participle] sprung - to move quickly and suddenly towards a particular placeI sprang out of bed to answer the door. [I usually + adverb or preposition]Thinking it might be her, he sprang to the telephone. [I usually + adverb or preposition]He always springs to his feet when she walks in the room. [I usually + adverb or preposition]The organization is ready to spring into action the moment it receives its funding. [I usually + adverb or preposition](figurative) I noticed the way you sprang to his defence (= immediately started to defend him) when Caroline started joking about his clothes. [I usually + adverb or preposition]The lid of the box sprang shut. [L]Say the word 'Australia' and a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately springs to mind (= comes quickly into the mind).