spur
gb/spˈɚ/ us/spˈɚ/
B2
English
~ 7300
ösztönöz, sarkall, serkent, ösztönző, hajtóerő, ösztönzés, sarkantyú, sarkantyúz, leágazás, nyúlvány, csontkinövés, oszteofita, nektársarkantyú
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to spur [someone/something] (on) (to [do something])
The government hopes the new tax cuts will spur economic growth.
A kormány reméli, hogy az új adócsökkentések ösztönzik a gazdasági növekedést.
Her early success spurred him on to work even harder.
Korai sikere arra ösztönözte, hogy még keményebben dolgozzon.
The tragic accident spurred the community to demand better road safety.
Competition from online stores has spurred many shops to improve their customer service.
The coach used last season’s defeat to spur the team into action.
Learner examples
The new rule will spur students to study more.
Az új szabály arra fogja ösztönözni a diákokat, hogy többet tanuljanak.
Her kind words spurred him on when he wanted to give up.
Kedves szavai erőt adtak neki, amikor már fel akarta adni.
High prices spurred farmers to grow more rice.
The bad results spurred the company to change its plan.
Winning a small prize spurred him to enter more contests.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"spur up"* or *"spur for"* when they mean *"spur on"* or *"spur to"*. Use *"spur someone on"* when talking about encouraging a person, and *"spur something"* or *"spur something on"* when talking about growth or change (e.g. *"spur growth"*, *"spur the economy"*).
Meaning
encourage or speed up something
Collocations
spur growth
|spur innovation
|spur investment
|spur development
|spur someone on
|spur action
Synonyms
motivate (Focuses on giving someone a reason or desire to act, often internal.)
|
encourage (Softer and more supportive; does not always suggest faster or stronger action.)
|
stimulate (Often used for economic or mental activity; slightly more formal and technical.)
Antonyms
discourage (Means to make someone less willing or less confident to do something.)
|
deter (Emphasizes actively stopping or preventing someone from acting.)
Themes
business
|emotions
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a person or thing act or grow faster by pushing or encouraging them.
To cause someone or something to act, improve, or develop more quickly or strongly, often by providing pressure, encouragement, or a reason.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a spur to [action/development]
The bonus was a real spur to productivity.
A bónusz valódi ösztönző volt a termelékenység növelésére.
Fear of failure can be a powerful spur to success.
A kudarctól való félelem erős hajtóerő lehet a siker elérésében.
Rising energy prices have been a spur to investment in renewable sources.
The award served as a spur for further research in the field.
Her illness was the spur he needed to change his lifestyle.
Learner examples
The prize was a strong spur for him to study.
A díj erős ösztönző volt számára arra, hogy tanuljon.
Her support was a spur to his career.
A támogatása lendületet adott a karrierjének.
High rent is a spur to look for a better job.
The test gave students a spur to review the work.
His children are his main spur in life.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this noun with the verb, saying *"it spurs to me"* instead of *"it is a spur to me"* or *"it spurs me"*. Use *"a spur"* as a noun (e.g. *"a spur to action"*) and *"spur"* as a verb (e.g. *"to spur action"*).
Meaning
thing that pushes you to act
Collocations
a spur to action
|a spur to growth
|act as a spur
|provide a spur
|a spur for reform
Synonyms
incentive (Often used for money or rewards; slightly more formal and common in business contexts.)
|
motivation (More general; can refer to inner feelings as well as outside causes.)
Antonyms
disincentive (Emphasizes something that makes people less likely to do something, especially in business or policy.)
|
deterrent (Focuses on a factor that actively stops or prevents action.)
Themes
business
|work
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A thing that makes someone want to act or work harder.
Something that causes a person, group, or process to act, improve, or develop more quickly or strongly; a strong incentive or motivation.
NOUN
C1
3
sarkantyú
B2
Usage pattern:
to wear spurs on [one's] boots
The cowboy’s spurs jingled as he walked across the wooden floor.
A cowboy sarkantyúi csilingeltek, ahogy végigsétált a fapadlón.
He dug his spurs into the horse’s sides and galloped away.
Belevágta sarkantyúit a ló oldalába, és elvágtatott.
Traditional cavalry uniforms often included polished metal spurs.
She slipped on her boots and checked that the spurs were firmly attached.
The old pair of spurs hung on a nail in the barn.
Learner examples
The man wore boots with spurs.
A férfi sarkantyús csizmát viselt.
He used his spurs to make the horse run.
Sarkantyúival futásra bírta a lovat.
The shiny spurs made a light sound when he walked.
She took off her spurs after the ride.
The spurs on his boots were very sharp.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *spur* in this sense is always plural. It can be *a spur* (one) or *spurs* (a pair on both boots).
Meaning
sharp device on riding boot
Collocations
wear spurs
|dig in his spurs
|silver spurs
|sharp spurs
|rowel spurs
Synonyms
riding spur (More specific; used when you want to make clear it is for horse riding.)
Antonyms
bare heel (Contrasts the use of a metal device with using only the rider’s heel.)
Themes
sports
|animals
Definition
A small sharp metal thing on the back of a rider’s boot, used to make a horse move.
A small metal tool with a pointed or spiked wheel that is fixed to the heel of a rider’s boot and used to urge a horse to move faster or obey commands.
VERB
C1
4
sarkantyúz
C1
Usage pattern:
to spur [a horse] (forward/on)
He spurred his horse forward as the storm clouds gathered.
Megsarkantyúzta a lovát, miközben gyülekeztek a viharfelhők.
The rider spurred the mare on, racing toward the finish line.
A lovas megsarkantyúzta a kancát, és a célvonal felé vágtatott.
She spurred her horse and cleared the final jump.
At the sound of gunfire, the soldiers spurred their mounts into a gallop.
Learner examples
The cowboy spurred his horse and it ran fast.
A cowboy megsarkantyúzta a lovát, és az gyorsan futni kezdett.
She spurred the horse forward to cross the river.
Megsarkantyúzta a lovat, hogy átkeljenek a folyón.
He spurred the animal and it jumped.
The boy spurred his horse to catch his friend.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this physical meaning with the figurative one used for people or things (e.g. *"spur economic growth"*). When the object is clearly a horse or another ridden animal, it usually refers to the physical action with spurs.
Meaning
urge a horse with spurs
Collocations
spur his horse
|spur the animal forward
|spur the mount
|spur the horse on
Synonyms
goad (More formal and can also be used for urging people; not limited to horses.)
Antonyms
rein in (Means to slow down or control a horse, the opposite of urging it forward.)
Themes
sports
|animals
Definition
To use the sharp metal things on your boots to make a horse move.
To press the sides of a horse with spurs in order to make it move faster or obey a command.
NOUN
C1
5
Usage pattern:
a spur of [a mountain/line/road]
The village lies on a short spur off the main highway.
A falu a főút egyik rövid leágazása mentén fekszik.
A narrow spur of land separates the two lakes.
Egy keskeny földnyúlvány választja el a két tavat.
The train only runs along the industrial spur during the night.
They built a small spur road to connect the factory to the motorway.
A rocky spur of the mountain juts out over the valley.
Learner examples
The town is on a spur of the main road.
A város a főút egyik leágazása mentén fekszik.
A small rail spur goes to the factory.
Egy rövid vasúti leágazás vezet a gyárhoz.
We walked along a spur of the mountain.
This spur road leads to the airport.
The map shows a spur off the main line.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this *spur* is related to *spur of the moment*. It is not; here it is a physical branch or projection, usually in maps, geography, or transport.
Meaning
short branch from larger thing
Collocations
a mountain spur
|a spur road
|a spur line
|a spur of the Andes
|a rail spur
Synonyms
branch (More general; used for many things that split off, not just in technical or geographic contexts.)
Antonyms
main line (Refers to the primary route, in contrast with a secondary spur line or road.)
Themes
travel
|geography
|infrastructure
|space
Definition
A short part that comes off a bigger road, line, or hill.
A short branch or projection that extends from a larger main structure, such as a road, railway line, or mountain range.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
6
csontkinövés
C1
oszteofita
C2
Usage pattern:
a bone spur on [a body part]
The X-ray showed a bone spur on his heel.
A röntgenfelvétel csontkinövést mutatott ki a sarkán.
Bone spurs in the spine can press on nerves and cause pain.
A gerincben lévő csontkinövések nyomhatják az idegeket, és fájdalmat okozhatnak.
She had surgery to remove a painful bone spur from her shoulder.
Repeated stress on the joint led to the development of small bone spurs.
Learner examples
The doctor found a bone spur in his knee.
Az orvos csontkinövést talált a térdében.
A bone spur on her heel made it hard to walk.
A sarkán lévő csontkinövés miatt nehezen tudott járni.
He had a bone spur removed from his shoulder.
Bone spurs can cause pain in the back.
Common mistake:
Learners may think *bone spur* is idiomatic. It is literal: it is a real extra piece of bone. Do not use it for general motivation or sudden ideas.
Meaning
extra bony growth on bone
Collocations
bone spur
|heel spur
|develop bone spurs
|remove a bone spur
|painful bone spur
Synonyms
osteophyte (The formal medical term for a bone spur; used mainly by doctors and in medical texts.)
Antonyms
smooth bone surface (Describes the normal condition without extra bony growths.)
Themes
health
|science
|body
Definition
A small extra piece of bone that grows on a bone, often causing pain.
A small, pointed or hook-like outgrowth of bone that forms along the edges of a bone, often where bones meet or where a tendon attaches, typically due to wear, inflammation, or disease.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
7
sarkantyú
C2
Usage pattern:
a spur at the base of [a flower]
The orchid’s long spur contains nectar for visiting insects.
Az orchidea hosszú sarkantyúja nektárt tartalmaz az odalátogató rovarok számára.
Some wildflowers have a curved spur at the back of the blossom.
Egyes vadvirágoknak a virág hátsó részén ívelt sarkantyújuk van.
Pollinators with long tongues can reach the nectar hidden in the flower’s spur.
Learner examples
This flower has a long spur at the back.
Ennek a virágnak hátul hosszú sarkantyúja van.
Nectar is stored in the spur of the flower.
A nektár a virág sarkantyújában tárolódik.
Only some insects can drink from the long spur.
The plant is easy to know because its flowers have spurs.
Common mistake:
Outside of scientific or gardening texts, this meaning is rare. Learners sometimes overextend the common *spur* meanings and miss that here it is a specific plant part.
Meaning
narrow hollow part of a flower
Collocations
flower spur
|nectar-filled spur
|a spur at the base
|spurred flowers
Synonyms
flower spur (A more explicit form; used in botany writing to avoid confusion with other types of spurs.)
Antonyms
spur-less flower (Used in botany to describe flowers that do not have such projections.)
Themes
science
|nature
Definition
A long, thin part that sticks out from a flower and often holds sweet liquid.
A narrow, usually hollow, pointed part that extends from a flower or plant organ, often containing nectar.
Grammar
Dictionary form
spur
IPA
GB/spˈɚ/
US/spˈɚ/
Syllables & stress
spur (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (spur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: spur
- Plural: spurs
Verb
- Base: spur
- 3rd Person Singular: spurs
- Present Participle: spurring
- Past: spurred
Word family
Forms
spurs
noun
spurring
verb
spurred
verb
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: spurring Verb
- Irregular past: spurred Verb
Expressions
on the spur of the moment
1/ˈɔn ðə spˈɚ əv ðə mˈoʊmənt/
idiom
suddenly, without planning
To do something suddenly, without thinking or planning first.
Examples
- We decided to go to the coast on the spur of the moment.
- She bought the car on the spur of the moment and later regretted it.
- He called his old teacher on the spur of the moment to say thank you.
spur on
1/spˈɚ ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
strongly encourage someone
To encourage someone strongly so they keep going or work harder.
Examples
- The cheering crowd spurred the runners on.
- Her parents’ support spurred her on during her difficult studies.
- Seeing his friend succeed spurred him on to try again.
spur someone to do something
1/spˈɚ sˈʌmwˌʌn tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
cause someone to start an action
To make a person decide to do a particular thing, often suddenly or with more energy.
Examples
- The crisis spurred the government to act quickly.
- Her success story spurred many young people to apply for the program.
- The doctor’s warning spurred him to change his diet.