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.