spur

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• COUNT in NET: 1 in 1 verses (in NT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

spur, n. [See Sparrow.].

 A sparrow.  [1913 Webster]

spur, n. [OE. spure, spore, AS. spura, spora; akin to D. spoor, G. sporn, OHG. sporo, Icel. spori, Dan. spore, Sw. sporre, and to AS. spor a trace, footstep, spyrian to trace, track, examine, and E. spurn. Sparrow, Spere, Spoor, Spurn.].

•  An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs were the badge of knighthood.  [1913 Webster]

  "And on her feet a pair of spurs large."  [1913 Webster]
•  That which goads to action; an incitement.  [1913 Webster]

  "Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
  (That last infirmity of noble mind)
  To scorn delights and live laborious days."  [1913 Webster]
•  Something that projects; a snag.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the large or principal roots of a tree.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain birds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.  [1913 Webster]
•  A mountain that shoots from any other mountain, or range of mountains, and extends to some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.  [1913 Webster]
•  A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale, to strip off the blubber.  [1913 Webster]
•  A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.  [1913 Webster]
•  The short wooden buttress of a post.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur.  [1913 Webster]
•  A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.  [1913 Webster]
•  A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.  [1913 Webster]
•  A branch of a vein.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  The track of an animal, as an otter; a spoor.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Spur fowl (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic gallinaceous birds of the genus Galloperdix, allied to the jungle fowl. The males have two or more spurs on each leg. -- Spur gear (Mach.), a cogwheel having teeth which project radially and stand parallel to the axis; a spur wheel. -- Spur gearing, gearing in which spur gears are used. See under Gearing. -- Spur pepper. (Bot.) See the Note under Capsicum. -- Spur wheel. Same as Spur gear, above.

spur, v. t. 

•  To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.  [1913 Webster]
•  To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive.  [1913 Webster]

  "Love will not be spurred to what it loathes."  [1913 Webster]
•  To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.  [1913 Webster]

spur, v. i. 

 To spur on one's horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
"The Parthians shall be there,
And, spurring from the fight, confess their fear."  [1913 Webster]
"The roads leading to the capital were covered with multitudes of yeomen, spurring hard to Westminster."  [1913 Webster]
"Some bold men, . . . by spurring on, refine themselves."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spur, n. & v.
--n.
1 a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel worn on a rider's heel for urging a horse forward.
2 a stimulus or incentive.
3 a spur-shaped thing, esp.: a a projection from a mountain or mountain range. b a branch road or railway. c a hard projection on a cock's leg. d a steel point fastened to the leg of a gamecock. e a climbing-iron. f a small support for ceramic ware in a kiln.
4 Bot. a a slender hollow projection from part of a flower. b a short fruit-bearing shoot.
--v. (spurred, spurring)
1 tr. prick (a horse) with spurs.
2 tr. a (often foll. by on) incite (a person) (spurred him on to greater efforts; spurred her to try again). b stimulate (interest etc.).
3 intr. (often foll. by on, forward) ride a horse hard.
4 tr. (esp. as spurred adj.) provide (a person, boots, a gamecock) with spurs.

Idiom

on the spur of the moment on a momentary impulse; impromptu. put (or set) spurs to
1 spur (a horse).
2 stimulate (resolution etc.). spur-gear = spur-wheel. spur royal hist. a 15-shilling coin of James I bearing a spurlike sun with rays. spur-wheel a cog-wheel with radial teeth.

Derivative

spurless adj.

Etymology

OE spora, spura f. Gmc, rel. to SPURN

THESAURUS

spur

accelerate, activation, actuation, aculeate, acuminate, animate, appendage, arm, arouse, awaken, barb, barbel, barbule, bill, bough, branch, brashly, breakwater, bundle, bustle, cage, cape, catalyst, cheer on, chersonese, cog, comb, coral reef, corral, countenance, crag, crest, crowd, cuspidate, delta, dispatch, drive, drive on, drove, edge, egg on, encourage, encouragement, excitant, excite, exhort, expedite, fang, favor, file, flog, foreland, forward, gad, gadfly, gaff, goad, goad on, grind, hand, harrow, haste, hasten, hasten on, hastily, head, headland, herd, hie on, hilltop, hone, hook, hound on, hurry, hurry along, hurry on, hurry up, hustle, hustle up, imp, impel, impetuously, impetus, impromptu, impulse, impulsively, incautiously, incentive, incitation, incite, incitement, induce, inducement, instigate, instigation, jag, joint, knoll, lash, leg, limb, link, lobe, lobule, lofty peak, member, motivate, motivation, motive, mountaintop, mull, naze, needle, ness, nudge, offshoot, oilstone, on the spot, organ, oxgoad, peak, pecten, peninsula, pic, pico, pike, pinion, pinnacle, point, poke, precipice, precipitate, press, pressure, prick, process, prod, projection, promontory, prompt, prompting, prong, propel, provocation, provoke, punch cattle, push, push on, push through, quicken, quill, railroad through, rake, rally, ramification, rashly, ratchet, recklessly, reef, reset, ride herd on, root on, round up, rouse, rowel, runner, rush, rush along, sandspit, sawtooth, scion, set, sharpen, shepherd, sic, snag, snaggle, speed, speed along, speed on, speed up, spiculate, spike, spine, spire, spit, spray, sprig, sprocket, spur on, stampede, steeple, stimulant, stimulate, stimulation, stimulus, sting, stir, strap, strop, suddenly, summit, switch, tail, taper, tendril, thoughtlessly, tine, tongue, tooth, tor, twig, unexpectedly, unpremeditatedly, unthinkingly, urge, urge on, urging, whet, whip, whip along, whip on, whiplash, wing, wrangle

ROGET THESAURUS

spur

Motive

N motive, springs of action, wellsprings of action, reason, ground, call, principle, by end, by purpose, mainspring, primum mobile, keystone, the why and the wherefore, pro and con, reason why, secret motive, arriere pensee, intention, inducement, consideration, attraction, loadstone, magnet, magnetism, magnetic force, allectation, allective, temptation, enticement, agacerie, allurement, witchery, bewitchment, bewitchery, charm, spell, fascination, blandishment, cajolery, seduction, seducement, honeyed words, voice of the tempter, song of the Sirens forbidden fruit, golden apple, persuasibility, persuasibleness, attractability, impressibility, susceptibility, softness, persuasiveness, attractiveness, tantalization, influence, prompting, dictate, instance, impulse, impulsion, incitement, incitation, press, instigation, provocation, inspiration, persuasion, suasion, encouragement, advocacy, exhortation, advice, solicitation, lobbyism, pull, incentive, stimulus, spur, fillip, whip, goad, ankus, rowel, provocative, whet, dram, bribe, lure, decoy, decoy duck, bait, trail of a red herring, bribery and corruption, sop, sop for Cerberus, prompter, tempter, seducer, seductor, instigator, firebrand, incendiary, Siren, Circe, agent provocateur, lobbyist, impulsive, motive, suasive, suasory, persuasive, persuasory, hortative, hortatory, protreptical, inviting, tempting suasive, suasory, seductive, attractive, fascinating, provocative, induced, disposed, persuadable, spellbound, instinct with, smitten with, infatuated, inspired, by, because, therefore, from this motive, from that motive, for this reason, for that reason, for, by reason of, for the sake of, count of, out of, from, as, forasmuch as, for all the world, on principle, fax mentis incendium gloriae, temptation hath a music for all ears, to beguile many and be beguiled by one.

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Convexity

N convexity, prominence, projection, swelling, gibbosity, bilge, bulge, protuberance, protrusion, camber, cahot, thank-ye-ma'am, swell, intumescence, tumour, tumor, tubercle, tuberosity, excrescence, hump, hunch, bunch, boss, embossment, hub, hubble, tooth, knob, elbow, process, apophysis, condyle, bulb, node, nodule, nodosity, tongue, dorsum, bump, clump, sugar loaf, bow, mamelon, molar, belly, corporation, pot belly, gut, withers, back, shoulder, lip, flange, pimple, zit, wen, wheel, papula, pustule, pock, proud flesh, growth, sarcoma, caruncle, corn, wart, pappiloma, furuncle, polypus, fungus, fungosity, exostosis, bleb, blister, blain, boil, airbubble, blob, papule, verruca, papilla, nipple, teat, tit, titty, boob, knocker, pap, breast, dug, mammilla, proboscis, nose, neb, beak, snout, nozzle, schnoz, peg, button, stud, ridge, rib, jutty, trunnion, snag, cupola, dome, arch, balcony, eaves, pilaster, relief, relievo, cameo, bassorilievo, mezzorilevo, altorivievo, low relief, bas relief, high relief, hill, cape, promontory, mull, forehead, foreland, point of land, mole, jetty, hummock, ledge, spur, naze, ness, convex, prominent, protuberant, projecting, bossed, embossed, bossy, nodular, bunchy, clavate, clavated, claviform, hummocky, moutonne, mammiliform, papulous, papilose, hemispheric, bulbous, bowed, arched, bold, bellied, tuberous, tuberculous, tumous, cornute, odontoid, lentiform, lenticular, gibbous, club shaped, hubby, hubbly, knobby, papillose, saddle-shaped, selliform, subclavate, torose, ventricose, verrucose, salient, in relief, raised, repousse, bloated, (expanded).

Sharpness

N sharpness, acuity, acumination, spinosity, point, spike, spine, spicule, spiculum, needle, hypodermic needle, tack, nail, pin, prick, prickle, spur, rowel, barb, spit, cusp, horn, antler, snag, tag thorn, bristle, Adam's needle, bear grass, tine, yucca, nib, tooth, tusk, spoke, cog, ratchet, crag, crest, arete, cone peak, sugar loaf, pike, aiguille, spire, pyramid, steeple, beard, chevaux de frise, porcupine, hedgehog, brier, bramble, thistle, comb, awn, beggar's lice, bur, burr, catchweed, cleavers, clivers, goose, grass, hairif, hariff, flax comb, hackle, hatchel, heckle, wedge, knife edge, cutting edge, blade, edge tool, cutlery, knife, penknife, whittle, razor, razor blade, safety razor, straight razor, electric razor, scalpel, bistoury, lancet, plowshare, coulter, colter, hatchet, ax, pickax, mattock, pick, adze, gill, billhook, cleaver, cutter, scythe, sickle, scissors, shears, pruning shears, cutters, wire cutters, nail clipper, paper cutter, sword, bodkin, belduque, bowie knife, paring knife, bushwhacker, drawing knife, drawing shave, microtome, chisel, screwdriver blade, flint blade, guillotine, sharpener, hone, strop, grindstone, whetstone, novaculite, steel, emery, sharp, keen, acute, acicular, aciform, aculeated, acuminated, pointed, tapering, conical, pyramidal, mucronate, mucronated, spindle shaped, needle shaped, spiked, spiky, ensiform, peaked, salient, cusped, cuspidate, cuspidated, cornute, cornuted, cornicultate, prickly, spiny, spinous, spicular, thorny, bristling, muricated, pectinated, studded, thistly, briary, craggy, snaggy, digitated, two-edged, fusiform, dentiform, denticulated, toothed, odontoid, starlike, stellated, stelliform, sagittate, sagittiform, arrowheaded, arrowy, barbed, spurred, acinaciform, apiculate, apiculated, aristate, awned, awny, bearded, calamiform, cone-shaped, coniform, crestate, echinate, gladiate, lanceolate, lanciform, awl, awl-shaped, lance-shaped, awl- shaped, scimitar-shaped, sword-shaped, setarious, spinuliferous, subulate, tetrahedral, xiphoid, cutting, sharp edged, knife edged, sharp as a razor, keen as a razor, sharp as a needle, sharp as a tack, sharpened, set.