spur Definition
- 1a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward
- 2a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive
- 3a projection from a mountain or hillside
- 4a short, upward-angled branch on a tree
Using spur: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "spur" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He urged his horse on with a sharp spur.
Example
The promise of a bonus acted as a spur to their productivity.
Example
The spurs on the mountain were visible from miles away.
Example
The apple tree had several spurs growing from its branches.
spur Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for spur
Antonyms for spur
Phrases with spur
Example
I decided to take a trip to the beach on the spur of the moment.
Example
She won her spurs as a journalist by reporting from war zones around the world.
Example
Under the spur of hunger, he ate the entire pizza by himself.
Origins of spur
from Old English 'spura', meaning 'spike'
Summary: spur in Brief
The term 'spur' [spɜːr] refers to a device worn on a rider's heel to urge a horse forward, or anything that prompts or encourages someone. It can also refer to a projection from a mountain or hillside or a short, upward-angled branch on a tree. Examples include 'He urged his horse on with a sharp spur' and 'The promise of a bonus acted as a spur to their productivity.' Phrases include 'on the spur of the moment,' meaning impulsively, and 'win one's spurs,' meaning to prove oneself worthy of recognition.