- spring
- spring1 [ sprıŋ ] noun ***1. ) count or uncount the season of the year between winter and summer:early/late springlast/this/next springin (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/sunshine2. ) count water that flows up from under the ground and forms a small stream or pool:a natural spring water supply3. ) 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 go4. ) count a quick jump forward or upa spring in someone's stepused 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.springspring 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 leakif a container or a boat springs a leak, it cracks or breaks so that water or other liquid can get in or outspring a surprise MAINLY BRITISHto tell someone something in order to surprise themspring to lifeto begin to be active:The team's sluggish attack sprang to life in the second half.spring to mindif 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 trap1. ) if an animal springs a TRAP, the trap closes on the animal so that it is caught2. ) to trick someone, especially after planning how you will do it`spring ,from phrasal verb transitivespring 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 INFORMALspring for something to pay for someone else's share of something:I'll spring for dinner tonight.`spring on phrasal verb transitivespring 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 intransitiveto appear or be produced suddenly and quickly:In southern California new Internet companies were springing up every day.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.