Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden, forceful gush or jet of liquid: A "spurt" is a brief, strong, and often narrow stream of liquid that is ejected or discharged suddenly.
   • A short period of intense activity or effort: A "spurt" can also refer to a sudden, brief burst of increased speed, energy, or growth.

2. Verb:

   • To gush or flow out suddenly in a stream: To "spurt" means for a liquid to be forced out or ejected in a sudden, forceful jet.
   • To move or act with a sudden increase in speed or energy: To "spurt" means to make a short, intense effort or to accelerate suddenly for a brief period.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • A spurt of blood came from the wound.
  • The child's growth spurt meant he needed new clothes every few months.
  • The runner put on a final spurt to win the race.

• Verb:

  • Water spurted from the broken pipe.
  • The runner spurted ahead in the last 100 meters.
  • The economy spurted forward after the new policy was introduced.

Advanced Usage

• "to have a spurt of (something)": to experience a sudden, brief period of a particular activity or feeling.
  • She had a sudden spurt of creativity and finished the painting.
• "in spurts": occurring in short, irregular bursts rather than continuously.
  • He works in spurts, sometimes very fast and sometimes not at all.

Variants and Related Words

• Spurting (adj/verb): The act or process of gushing out suddenly.
  • The spurting water was hard to control.
• Spurter (n, rare): One who or that which spurts.

Synonyms

• Noun (liquid): Jet, gush, spray, stream.
• Noun (effort/activity): Burst, surge, flare-up, outburst.
• Verb (liquid): Gush, jet, shoot, squirt.
• Verb (movement/effort): Dash, sprint, burst, surge.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Spurt" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed by the verb alone.)

Related Idioms

• "Growth spurt": A period of rapid physical growth, especially in children and adolescents.
  • My son is eating everything in sight; he must be having a growth spurt.
• "A spurt of anger/energy/etc.": A sudden, brief outburst of a particular emotion or force.
  • A spurt of anger made him shout.

Noun

1. the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid)

Verb

1. move or act with a sudden increase in speed or energy
2. gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
   • water gushed forth