spring

spring1 [ sprıŋ ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount the season of the year between winter and summer:

early/late spring

last/this/next spring

in (the) spring: In spring the garden is a feast of blossoms.

a ) only before noun happening in spring or relating to spring:

spring festivals/flowers/sunshine

2. ) count water that flows up from under the ground and forms a small stream or pool:

a natural spring water supply

3. ) count a long thin piece of metal in the shape of a COIL that quickly returns to its original shape after you stretch it and let it go:

Less expensive mattresses have springs that link together.

a ) uncount the ability of something to return to its original shape after it has been stretched out and let go

4. ) count a quick jump forward or up

a spring in someone's step

used for saying someone looks as if they are happy and full of energy:

He walked with a spring in his step, happy to have arrived.

spring

spring 2 [ sprıŋ ] (past tense sprang [ spræŋ ] or sprung [ sprʌŋ ] ; past participle sprung) verb intransitive **

1. ) MAINLY LITERARY to jump or move in a particular direction, quickly, and with a lot of energy:

The young man turned to hit him, but Corbett sprang back.

spring to your feet (=stand up quickly): Roberts kept springing to his feet to shout at the referees.

a ) used for saying that something is done quickly and with energy or force:

spring into action/motion: Let's get going, my father cried, springing into action.

spring to someone's defense/aid/assistance: She was just trying to help! said Eric, springing to her defense.

b ) used about objects that open or move quickly and with a lot of energy:

The door sprang open, and Jeremy appeared.

2. ) to happen or appear somewhere suddenly or unexpectedly:

Tears sprang to his eyes as he thought of Helen.

As they drove further down the road, two old barns sprang into view.

spring into existence/being: A powerful underground movement sprang into existence, led by the Socialists.

spring a leak

if a container or a boat springs a leak, it cracks or breaks so that water or other liquid can get in or out

spring a surprise MAINLY BRITISH

to tell someone something in order to surprise them

spring to life

to begin to be active:

The team's sluggish attack sprang to life in the second half.

spring to mind

if a thought or something you are trying to remember springs to mind, it comes into your mind suddenly:

His name doesn't spring to mind immediately.

spring a trap

1. ) if an animal springs a TRAP, the trap closes on the animal so that it is caught

2. ) to trick someone, especially after planning how you will do it

`spring ,from phrasal verb transitive

spring from someone/something to come from a particular place, family, or situation:

Hugh's interest in languages sprang from his upbringing in Spain.

`spring for phrasal verb transitive AMERICAN INFORMAL

spring for something to pay for someone else's share of something:

I'll spring for dinner tonight.

`spring on phrasal verb transitive

spring something on someone to tell someone something that they do not expect:

They just sprang it on me at the office meeting.

,spring `up phrasal verb intransitive

to appear or be produced suddenly and quickly:

In southern California new Internet companies were springing up every day.