Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sharp device worn on a rider's heel: A small metal tool with a pointed wheel or spike, attached to a rider's boot heel to urge a horse forward by pressure.
   • A thing that prompts or encourages action: Something that serves as a stimulus or incentive.
   • A projecting part or point: A thing that projects sharply, such as a ridge extending from a mountain or a pointed growth on a bird's leg or a flower's petal.
   • A short branch road or railway line: A secondary track or line connected to a main one.

2. Verb:

   • To urge a horse forward: To use spurs or one's heels to encourage a horse to go faster.
   • To encourage or stimulate: To prompt someone to act or to accelerate the development of something.
   • To equip with spurs: To attach spurs to something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The cowboy's silver spur jingled as he walked.
  • Winning the first round was the spur he needed to continue the competition.
  • The flower has a long spur at its base.
  • The factory is located on a rail spur off the main line.

• Verb:

  • She had to spur her horse to jump the fence.
  • The new grant is intended to spur innovation in renewable energy.
  • The knights were spurred for the ceremony.

Advanced Usage

• "On the spur of the moment": Acting suddenly based on impulse, without prior planning.

  • We decided to go to the beach on the spur of the moment.

• "To win one's spurs": To prove one's ability or earn recognition for the first time.

  • The young reporter won her spurs with that groundbreaking investigation.

Variants and Related Words

• Spurred (adj): Having spurs attached.

  • He wore spurred boots.

• Spurring (n): The action of urging or encouraging.

  • Her constant spurring finally got him to apply for the job.

Synonyms

• Noun: Incentive, stimulus, impetus, goad, prod, incitement.
• Verb: Encourage, stimulate, prompt, incite, goad, prod.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Spur on: To encourage someone to continue or try harder.
  • The cheering crowd spurred the team on to victory.

Related Idioms

• To need the spur: To be lazy or slow and require encouragement.

  • This project is behind schedule; the team seems to need the spur.

• To spur a willing horse: To try to encourage someone who is already motivated (often implies unnecessary or excessive urging).

  • He's already working late every night; telling him to try harder is just spurring a willing horse.

Noun

1. a railway line connected to a trunk line
2. a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward
   • cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on
3. tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers
4. any sharply pointed projection
5. a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
   • the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves

Verb

1. equip with spurs
   • spur horses
2. goad with spurs
   • the rider spurred his horse
3. strike with a spur
4. give heart or courage to
5. incite or stimulate
   • The Academy was formed to spur research