 |
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Spring \Spring\ (spr[i^]ng), verb (used without an object) [imp. {Sprang} (spr[a^]ng) or {Sprung} (spr[u^]ng); p. p. {Sprung}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Springing}.] [AS. springan; akin to D. & G. springen, OS. & OHG. springan, Icel. & Sw. springa, Dan. springe; cf. Gr. spe'rchesqai to hasten. Cf. {Springe}, {Sprinkle}.]
1. To leap; to bound; to jump.
The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains. --Philips.
2. To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot.
And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof. --Dryden.
3. To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert.
Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring. --Otway.
4. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power.
5. To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank, sometimes springs in seasoning.
6. To shoot up, out, or forth; to come to the light; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from its seed, as streams from their source, and the like; -- often followed by up, forth, or out.
Till well nigh the day began to spring. --Chaucer.
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth. --Job xxxviii. 27.
Do not blast my springing hopes. --Rowe.
O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born. --Pope.
7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle.
[They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet linked. --Milton.
8. To grow; to thrive; to prosper.
What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose command we perish, and we spring? --Dryden.
{To spring at}, to leap toward; to attempt to reach by a leap.
{To spring forth}, to leap out; to rush out.
{To spring in}, to rush in; to enter with a leap or in haste.
{To spring on} or {To spring upon}, to leap on; to rush on with haste or violence; to assault.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Sprang \Sprang\ (spr[a^]ng), imp. of {Spring}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
spring
noun
1: the season of growth; "the emerging buds were a sure sign of spring"; "he will hold office until the spring of next year" [syn: {springtime}]
2: a natural flow of ground water [syn: {fountain}, {outflow}, {outpouring}, {natural spring}]
3: a metal elastic device that returns to its shape or position when pushed or pulled or pressed; "the spring was broken"
4: a light springing movement upwards or forwards [syn: {leap}, {leaping}, {saltation}, {bound}, {bounce}]
5: the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length [syn: {give}, {springiness}]
6: a point at which water issues forth
verb
1: move forward by leaps and bounds; "The horse bounded across the meadow"; "The child leapt across the puddle"; "Can you jump over the fence?" [syn: {jump}, {leap}, {bound}]
2: develop into a distinctive entity; "our plans began to take shape" [syn: {form}, {take form}, {take shape}]
3: spring back; spring away from an impact; "The rubber ball bounced"; "These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide" [syn: {bounce}, {resile}, {take a hop}, {bound}, {rebound}, {recoil}, {reverberate}, {ricochet}]
4: produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; "He sprang a new haircut on his wife"
5: develop suddenly; "The tire sprang a leak"
6: produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; "He sprang these news on me just as I was leaving" [also: {sprung}, {sprang}]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
sprang See {spring}
 |
Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |