I. noun
also spirt ˈspər]t, ˈspə̄], ˈspəi], usu ]d.+V
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : a short period of time : moment
leaving for a spurt and returning shortly
2.
a. : a sudden and usually brief burst or outbreak of effort, activity, or development
the pubertal phase … contains the most noticeable growth spurt — G.S.Blum
the accidental and perhaps temporary spurt in population — S.H.Slichter
has a little spurt of good fortune — Erle Stanley Gardner
science and mathematics came in a four-century spurt and then stood still — A.L.Kroeber
b. : a quick burst or increase in speed of movement or progress
put on an extra spurt and … slipped through a hole in the hedge — George Orwell
his heads-up ball-playing saved many a game … in their late season spurt — Current Biography
c. : a sharp or sudden increase or advance in business activity ; also : the period of such a movement
enjoying a spurt in sales — Vance Packard
doing a nice business handling the annual spurt in the busy weeks before Christmas — Frederick Way
II. verb
also spirt “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
: to make a spurt
has spurted into popularity — Jane Nickerson
tucked the ball in, spurted at him, driving hard — Irwin Shaw
possibly its sales will spurt — Lloyd Mangrum
stocks spurted … then took a sharp spill — New Orleans (La.) Times-Picayune
transitive verb
: to cause (something) to make a spurt
we spurt dress sales … every time we tie up with a smart society event — Women's Wear Daily
III. verb
also spirt “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: perhaps akin to Middle High German spirzen, spürzen to spit, sprützen to sprout, squirt — more at sprit
intransitive verb
: to gush suddenly or violently : spout
blood was seeping, not spurting, from the head wound — Frances & Richard Lockridge
hit the ground hard, the dust spurting from beneath his boots — C.J.Clements
saw smoke billow and flame spurt out — Philip Rooney
transitive verb
: to force out or expel (as a liquid) in a stream or jet : squirt
spurts water from his mouth
IV. noun
also spirt “
( -s )
1. : a sudden forceful gushing or shooting forth : jet
an intermittent wind with wild spurts of incredibly thin rain — J.C.Powys
spurts of rifle fire stabbed at them — Marjory S. Douglas
little spurts of low-voiced conversation — H.L.Davis
2. : a quick surge of feeling or emotional outburst
in a vicious spurt of temper, flung it into the fire — D.H.Lawrence
sat there coughing, his sudden spurt of valor … knocked out of him — Max Peacock
inspiration that came and went in spurts — Paul Hume
V. intransitive verb
also spirt “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably alteration of sprit (I)
: to shoot up : sprout
from the grass … flame-bright anemones spurted — Elizabeth Bowen
branches spurt from the trunk