I. ˈspriŋ verb
( sprang ˈspraŋ ; or sprung ˈsprəŋ ; sprung ; spring·ing ˈspriŋ-iŋ)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English springan; akin to Old High German springan to jump and perhaps to Greek sperchesthai to hasten
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : dart , shoot
sparks sprang out from the fire
(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
tears spring from our eyes
3.
a. : to grow as a plant
b. : to issue by birth or descent
sprang from the upper class
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
spring ing across the lawn
b. : to leap or jump up suddenly
sprang from their seats
5. : to stretch out in height : rise
6. : pay — used with for
I'll spring for the drinks
transitive verb
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
spring 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
sprung them from jail
Synonyms:
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
industries stemming from space research
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a source of supply ; especially : a source of water issuing from the ground
b. : an ultimate source especially of action or motion
2. : spring tide
3. : a time or season of growth or development ; specifically : the season between winter and summer comprising in the northern hemisphere usually 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 -ˌlīk adjective
III. transitive verb
( sprung ˈsprəŋ ; spring·ing ˈspriŋ-iŋ)
Date: 1884
: to fit with springs