spur

Word family

Related topics: Horses, Geography, Trains & railways, Roads

spur1 /spɜː $ spɜːr/ noun [countableC]

1 on the spur of the moment SUDDENLYsuddenly, without any previous planning or thought 一时冲动

We would often decide what to play on the spur of the moment.

我们经常是凭兴致临时决定表演内容。

→ spur-of-the-moment

Examples from the Corpus

on the spur of the moment• It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.• On the spur of the moment, she decided to enter the race that she had come to watch.• On the spur of the moment, we decided to head north that day instead of East.• I bought the car on the spur of the moment.• This list wasn't compiled on the spur of the moment.• But airlines allow them to fly on the spur of the moment on a standby basis.• I pledged to never again go home with some one on the spur of the moment.• Now I could call other parents on the spur of the moment, arrange overnights for Janir or invite his friends over.• I just reacted on the spur of the moment.• They make quick changes and responses on the spur of the moment.• He just took a calculated risk on the spur of the moment.• When she got through he said he had taken a train on the spur of the moment and was in Bristol.

2 CAUSEa fact or event that makes you try harder to do something 激励因素；鼓舞；鞭策

spur to

It provided the spur to further research.

这对进一步的研究起到了鼓舞作用。

The crowd’s reaction only acted as a spur.

人群的反应不过起了刺激作用。

3. DSHa sharp pointed object on the heel of a rider’s boot which is used to encourage a horse to go faster 马刺

4. earn/win your spurs to show that you deserve to succeed because you have the right skills 〔因掌握正确技能而〕获得荣誉，赢得名望

Examples from the Corpus

earn/win your spurs• Now he has won his spurs, he can afford to recognise mistakes like that without fearing loss of face.• But thanks to Sheila, now you don't have to go all the way to Dodge City to win your spurs.• David had done absolutely nothing to earn his spurs when Samuel anointed him.• Pistoliers are young nobles who have yet to win their spurs and assume their rightful position as Knights of the Empire.

5. SGa piece of high ground which sticks out from the side of a hill or mountain 山嘴，尖坡

6. TTTTTRa railway track or road that goes away from a main line or road 〔铁路或公路的〕支线

Examples from the Corpus

spur• The desire to make a profit has always been a spur to expanded trade.• A glint of metal behind a spur of rock.• a small bone spur in the right shoulder• Each type can have as many spurs as there are sockets on the original circuit.• The book will help you tell one bird from another and that will be the spur to further enquiry.• This list wasn't compiled on the spur of the moment.• The spur for development in tests usually came from a pressing practical need.• Alejandro and his son all stop horses with five-inch curbs and send them on with spurs about the same length.

Related topics: Horses

spur2 verb (spurred, spurring)

1 [transitiveT] (also spur somebody on)HELP to encourage someone or make them want to do something 激励，鼓励

The band were spurred on by the success of their last two singles.

乐队因最近两张单曲唱片的成功而深受鼓舞。

spur somebody (on) to do something

His misfortunes spurred him to write.

他的不幸遭遇激励着他写作。

spur somebody (on) to something

the coach who spurred him on to Olympic success

鞭策他在奥运会上取得成功的教练

It was an article in the local newspaper which finally spurred him into action.

是当地报纸上的一篇文章最终促使他行动起来。

2 [transitiveT]FAST/QUICK to make an improvement or change happen faster 促进，刺激 SYN encourage

Lower taxes would spur investment and help economic growth.

降低税率将刺激投资，有助于经济增长。

3. [intransitiveI, transitiveT]DSH to encourage a horse to go faster, especially by pushing it with special points on the heels of your boots 〔尤指用马刺〕策（马）加速，（使）〔马〕快跑

Examples from the Corpus

spur• The growth of tourism has spurred equivalent developments in the hotel and leisure-related sectors.• Falling out with Anne finally spurred me into activity.• Today's new generation of black directors has been spurred on by two particular success stories.• The rapes that spurred the creation of the task force began Aug. 21.• And other natural resources, like minerals and timber, spurred the growth of technologies needed to extract them.• He spurred the horse into a canter.

spur somebody (on) to do something• His Genius on the field spurred Blackpool to a famous win against Bolton in the 1953 cup final.• From the junction at Machynlleth a southern spur runs to Aberystwyth.• Hepatitis B woke up the research community and spurred it to action.• He also wants to spur engineers to build better hardware and encourage greater funding for its infrastructure.• It spurred me to buy a ticket to Calcutta.• It's something she would naturally do but it was not the job alone that spurred the gentleman to buy her flowers.• And that will spur more customers to buy phones.• The run used to be three miles but I added a quarter mile spur in order to use the time to best advantage.

Origin spur1

Old English spura

spur1 nounspur2 verb

Chinese

Corpus