spur
♦ spur /sp'ɜːr/ (spurs spurring spurred)
1 [VERB] V n to-inf, V n to/into n/-ing
If one thing spurs you to do another, it encourages you to do it.
It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsy boats...
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
= urge
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V n P to n
Spur on means the same as spur.
Their attitude, rather than reining him back, only seemed to spur Philip on...
Criticism can be of great use; we may not like it at the time, but it can spur us on to greater things.
2 [VERB] V n
If something spurs a change or event, it makes it happen faster or sooner. (JOURNALISM)
The administration may put more emphasis on spurring economic growth...
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing, oft N to n
Something that acts as a spur to something else encourages a person or organization to do that thing or makes it happen more quickly.
...a belief in competition as a spur to efficiency...
4 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Spurs are small metal wheels with sharp points that are attached to the heels of a rider's boots. The rider uses them to make their horse go faster.
5 [N-COUNT]
The spur of a hill or mountain is a piece of ground which sticks out from its side.
6 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly, without planning it beforehand.
They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment...
1 [VERB] V n to-inf, V n to/into n/-ing
If one thing spurs you to do another, it encourages you to do it.
It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsy boats...
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
= urge
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V n P to n
Spur on means the same as spur.
Their attitude, rather than reining him back, only seemed to spur Philip on...
Criticism can be of great use; we may not like it at the time, but it can spur us on to greater things.
2 [VERB] V n
If something spurs a change or event, it makes it happen faster or sooner. (JOURNALISM)
The administration may put more emphasis on spurring economic growth...
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing, oft N to n
Something that acts as a spur to something else encourages a person or organization to do that thing or makes it happen more quickly.
...a belief in competition as a spur to efficiency...
4 [N-COUNT] usu pl
Spurs are small metal wheels with sharp points that are attached to the heels of a rider's boots. The rider uses them to make their horse go faster.
5 [N-COUNT]
The spur of a hill or mountain is a piece of ground which sticks out from its side.
6 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly, without planning it beforehand.
They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment...