Definition

1. Noun:

   • A season: The season between winter and summer, characterized by new growth and warmer weather.
   • A source of water: A place where water flows naturally from the ground.
   • A coil or device: An elastic device, typically a coil of metal, that returns to its original shape after being compressed or stretched.
   • A leap or jump: A sudden, light, upward or forward movement.
   • Elastic quality: The ability of something to return to its original shape after being stretched or compressed.

2. Verb:

   • To move suddenly: To jump or move quickly and energetically, often upward or forward.
   • To originate or appear: To come into existence or appear suddenly.
   • To cause to operate: To cause a trap or mechanism to be triggered or released.
   • To develop a leak: To crack or split, causing a leak (e.g., a container or pipe).
   • To provide the means for release: To secure the release of someone from confinement (informal, e.g., from jail).

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • I love the flowers that bloom in the spring.
  • We drank fresh water from the mountain spring.
  • The spring in the mattress is broken.
  • The cat made a quick spring to catch the mouse.

• Verb:

  • The cat will spring onto the counter when no one is looking.
  • New businesses spring up in the city every year.
  • The trap will spring shut when the animal touches the trigger.
  • The old pipe sprang a leak.
  • His friends pooled their money to spring him from jail.

Advanced Usage

• "to spring to mind": to be thought of immediately.
  • When I think of a great leader, her name springs to mind.
• "to spring for something": to pay for something, often as a treat (informal).
  • He sprang for dinner to celebrate.
• "to spring from": to originate from a source.
  • His kindness springs from a generous heart.

Variants and Related Words

• Springy (adjective): Elastic or bouncy.
  • The springy floor was perfect for gymnastics.
• Springboard (noun): A flexible board used for jumping; something that provides an initial impetus.
  • The internship served as a springboard for her career.
• Offspring (noun): The young of an animal; a person's child or children.
  • The lioness protected her offspring.

Synonyms

• Noun (season): Springtime.
• Noun (source): Fountain, wellhead.
• Verb (jump): Leap, bound, vault.
• Verb (originate): Arise, emerge, stem.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Spring back: To return quickly to an original shape or position.
  • The branch bent but sprang back when released.
• Spring on: To present something suddenly or unexpectedly to someone.
  • He sprang the bad news on me just before the meeting.
• Spring up: To appear or develop quickly.
  • Tents sprang up all over the field for the festival.

Related Idioms

• "No spring chicken": Not young anymore.
  • He can still run fast, but he's no spring chicken.
• "Spring into action": To start doing something quickly and energetically.
  • The team sprang into action as soon as the alarm sounded.
• "Hope springs eternal": People will always continue to hope.
  • Even after many rejections, for writers, hope springs eternal.

Noun

1. a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
2. the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
3. a point at which water issues forth
4. a natural flow of ground water
5. a metal elastic device that returns to its shape or position when pushed or pulled or pressed
   • the spring was broken
6. the season of growth
   • the emerging buds were a sure sign of spring
   • he will hold office until the spring of next year

Verb

1. produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly
   • He sprang these news on me just as I was leaving
2. develop suddenly
   • The tire sprang a leak
3. spring back; spring away from an impact
   • The rubber ball bounced
   • These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide
4. develop into a distinctive entity
   • our plans began to take shape
5. move forward by leaps and bounds
   • The horse bounded across the meadow
   • The child leapt across the puddle
   • Can you jump over the fence?