spurred

[ spurd ]

/ spɜrd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spurred ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having a spur or spurs.

bearing spurs or spurlike spines.

Origin of spurred

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at spur¹, -ed³

OTHER WORDS FROM spurred

un·spurred, adjective

Words nearby spurred

spurgeon, spurious, spurious ankylosis, spurious wing, spurn, spurred, spurrey, spurrier, spurry, spurt, spurtle

Definition for spurred (2 of 2)

spur ¹

[ spur ]

/ spɜr /

noun

a U-shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a boot and has a blunt, pointed, or roweled projection at the back for use by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward.

anything that goads, impels, or urges, as to action, speed, or achievement.

climbing iron.

Ornithology. a stiff, usually sharp, horny process on the leg of various birds, especially the domestic rooster, or on the bend of the wing, as in jacanas and screamers.

Pathology. a bony projection or exostosis.

a sharp piercing or cutting instrument fastened to the leg of a gamecock in cockfighting; gaff.

Physical Geography. a ridge or line of elevation projecting from or subordinate to the main body of a mountain or mountain range.

something that projects and resembles or suggests a gaff; sharp projection.

a short or stunted branch or shoot, as of a tree.

Typography. a short, seriflike projection from the bottom of the short vertical stroke in the capital G in some fonts.

wing dam.

Botany.

a slender, usually hollow, projection from some part of a flower, as from the calyx of the larkspur or the corolla of the violet.
Also called spur shoot. a short shoot bearing flowers, as in fruit trees.

Architecture.

a short wooden brace, usually temporary, for strengthening a post or some other part.
any offset from a wall, as a buttress.
griffe².

Ceramics. a triangular support of refractory clay for an object being fired.

Railroads. spur track.

verb (used with object), spurred, spur·ring.

to prick with or as if with a spur or spurs; incite or urge on: The rider spurred his mount ruthlessly. Appreciation spurs ambition.

to strike or wound with the spur, as a gamecock.

to furnish with spurs or a spur.

verb (used without object), spurred, spur·ring.

to goad or urge one's horse with spurs or a spur; ride quickly.

to proceed hurriedly; press forward: We spurred onward through the night.

Origin of spur

before 900; (noun) Middle English spure, Old English spura; cognate with Old High German sporo, Old Norse spori spur; akin to spurn; (v.) Middle English spuren, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR spur

1, 2 goad.

2 incitement, stimulus, incentive, inducement, provocation, instigation.

16 goad, provoke, stimulate, impel, inspire, induce, instigate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR spur ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR spur

16 discourage.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR spur ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM spur

spur·less, adjective spur·like, adjective spur·rer, noun

Example sentences from the Web for spurred

That action ignited protests that rocked Wisconsin and spurred a recall—only the second recall of a governor in U.S. history.

The Next Phase of the Koch Brothers’ War on Unions |Carl Deal and Tia Lessin |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But what spurred him to action was a Washington Post study of the post-9/11 veteran population.

The Next Greatest Generation |Nina Strochlic |November 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Anger about Citizens United has spurred a movement to amend the Constitution to reverse the opinion.

Undo Citizens United? We’d Only Scratch the Surface |Jedediah Purdy |November 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Republicans, spurred on by the Tea Party, have taken the approach that they will oppose anything proposed by the President.

Fixing a Dysfunctional Family: Congress |Gene Robinson |November 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

But at the same time, our massive economic inequality has spurred very little serious and visible thinking about alternatives.

Why Some Americans Are More Equal Than Others |Jedediah Purdy |September 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Slade grunted contemptuously and spurred his horse into a gallop.

Bloom of Cactus |Robert Ames Bennet
Spurred to desperate effort, I stood up on the instant and leaned against a rocky wall.

Pieces of Eight |Richard le Gallienne
He spurred his horse some distance into the shallow sea in the hope of animating his sailors to greater efforts.

The Turkish Empire, its Growth and Decay |Lord Eversley
The longer hunts brought with them a difficulty which spurred him to further invention.

"Where Angels Fear to Tread" and Other Stories of the Sea |Morgan Robertson
With the magical pressure of her lips upon his, he swung into the saddle and spurred down the road.

Bob Hampton of Placer |Randall Parrish

British Dictionary definitions for spurred

spur

/ (spɜː) /

noun

a pointed device or sharp spiked wheel fixed to the heel of a rider's boot to enable him to urge his horse on

anything serving to urge or encourage the increase in salary was a spur to their production

a sharp horny projection from the leg just above the claws in male birds, such as the domestic cock

a pointed process in any of various animals; calcar

a tubular extension at the base of the corolla in flowers such as larkspur

a short or stunted branch of a tree

a ridge projecting laterally from a mountain or mountain range

a wooden prop or a masonry reinforcing pier

another name for groyne

Also called: spur track a railway branch line or siding

a short side road leading off a main road a motorway spur

a sharp cutting instrument attached to the leg of a gamecock

on the spur of the moment on impulse

win one's spurs

history to earn knighthood
to prove one's ability; gain distinction

verb spurs, spurring or spurred

(tr) to goad or urge with or as if with spurs

(intr) to go or ride quickly; press on

(tr) to injure or strike with a spur

(tr) to provide with a spur or spurs

Word Origin for spur

Old English spura; related to Old Norse spori, Old High German sporo

Medical definitions for spurred

spur

[ spûr ]

n.

A spine or projection from a bone.

Scientific definitions for spurred

spur

[ spûr ]

A small ridge that projects sharply from the side of a larger hill or mountain.

A projection from a bone, as on the heel of the foot.

Idioms and Phrases with spurred

spur

In addition to the idiom beginning with spur

spur on

also see:

on the spur of the moment
win one's spurs

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

spurred

adjective

Origin of spurred

OTHER WORDS FROM spurred

Words nearby spurred

Definition for spurred (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), spurred, spur·ring.

verb (used without object), spurred, spur·ring.

Origin of spur

SYNONYMS FOR spur

ANTONYMS FOR spur

OTHER WORDS FROM spur

Example sentences from the Web for spurred

British Dictionary definitions for spurred

noun

verb spurs, spurring or spurred

Word Origin for spur

Medical definitions for spurred

n.

Scientific definitions for spurred

Idioms and Phrases with spurred

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

spurred

adjective

Origin of spurred

OTHER WORDS FROM spurred

Words nearby spurred

Definition for spurred (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), spurred, spur·ring.

verb (used without object), spurred, spur·ring.

Origin of spur

SYNONYMS FOR spur

ANTONYMS FOR spur

OTHER WORDS FROM spur

Words related to spurred

Example sentences from the Web for spurred

British Dictionary definitions for spurred

noun

verb spurs, spurring or spurred

Word Origin for spur

Medical definitions for spurred

n.

Scientific definitions for spurred

Idioms and Phrases with spurred