spring
[verb]
Synonyms:
- jump, bounce, bound, leap, vault
- often with from: originate, arise, come, derive, descend, issue, proceed, start, stem
- often with up: appear, develop, mushroom, shoot up
[noun]
Synonyms:
- jump, bound, leap, vault
- elasticity, bounce, buoyancy, flexibility, resilience

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Antonyms: autumn
Contrasted words: autumn, fall
Related Idioms: prime of the year
Related Words: appear, emerge, come out, loom, arrive, come, begin, commence, hatch, start, excitant, impetus, incitement, stimulant, stimulus, blackberry winter

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. spring¹ S2 W2 /sprɪŋ/ noun

1. SEASON [uncountable and countable] the season between winter and summer when leaves and flowers appear
spring of
the spring of 1933
in/during the spring
It’s due to open in the spring.
late/early spring
It was a cold, sunny day in early spring.
spring flowers

2.
CURVED METAL
a) [countable usually plural] something, usually a twisted piece of metal, that will return to its previous shape after it has been pressed down:
an old armchair with broken springs
b) [uncountable] the ability of a chair, bed etc to return to its normal shape after being pressed down

3. WATER [countable] a place where water comes up naturally from the ground:
spring water
There are several hot springs in the area.

4. spring in your step if you walk with a spring in your step, you move quickly and happily:
As he walked into the office that morning, there was a spring in his step.

5. full of the joys of spring happy and full of energy – used humorously

6. SUDDEN JUMP [singular] a sudden quick movement or jump in a particular direction Synonym : leap

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. spring² verb (past tense sprang /spræŋ/ or sprung /sprʌŋ/ American English, past participle sprung)
[Language: Old English; Origin: springan]

1. MOVE SUDDENLY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, especially by jumping Synonym : leap
spring out of/from
Tom sprung out of bed and ran downstairs.
spring out at somebody
Two men sprang out at me as I was walking through the park.
He sprang to his feet (=stood up suddenly) and rushed after her.
spring to sb’s aid/assistance (=move quickly to help someone)
One of the young policemen sprang to her assistance.

REGISTER
Spring is used mostly in literature. In everyday English, people usually say jump:
He jumped out of bed.

2. MOVE BACK [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if something springs back, open etc, it moves quickly, suddenly, and with force, especially after being pushed down or sideways
spring back/up
The branch sprang back and hit him in the face.
spring open/shut
The gate sprang shut behind them.

3. spring to (sb’s) mind if someone or something springs to mind, you immediately think of them:
Two questions spring to mind.

4. spring into action (also spring to/into life) to suddenly become active, start moving, or start working:
They were prepared and ready to spring into action.
Finally, the engine sprang to life.

5. spring a surprise to do something surprising:
Roy is unlikely to spring any surprises.

6. tears spring to/into sb’s eyes written used to say that someone starts to cry

7. spring into existence/being to suddenly begin to exist:
A lot of small businesses sprang into existence during the 1980s.

8. spring a trap
a) if an animal springs a trap, it is caught by the trap
b) to make someone say or do something by tricking them

9. spring a leak if a boat or a container springs a leak, it begins to let liquid in or out through a crack or hole

10. spring to sb’s defence to quickly defend someone who is being criticized:
Charlene sprang immediately to her son’s defence.

11. spring to attention if soldiers spring to attention, they stand suddenly upright

12. HELP SOMEBODY ESCAPE [transitive + from] informal to help someone escape from prison
spring for something phrasal verb American English informal
to pay for something:
I’ll spring for the beer tonight.
spring from something phrasal verb spoken
to be caused by something or start from something:
behaviour which springs from prejudices
spring something on somebody phrasal verb
to tell someone something or ask them to do something when they do not expect it and are not ready for it:
It’s not fair to spring this on her without any warning.
spring up phrasal verb
to suddenly appear or start to exist:
Fast-food restaurants are springing up all over town.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

spring
noun
I. season
ADJ. last, next, this (coming) | early, late, mid- | wet
SPRING + NOUN weather | sun, sunlight, sunshine | frost/frosts, rain/rains, wind | tide The highest spring tides of the the year occur after the equinoxes in March and September.
equinox | term The students spend the whole spring term on teaching practice.
flower | lamb, greens a delicious recipe for spring lamb
clean, cleaning They decided to give the attic a spring clean.
collection, exhibition
 ⇒ Note at SEASON (for more collocates)

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

spring
II. coiled metal or wire
VERB + SPRING break The children broke some springs jumping on the bed.
SPRING + VERB break, go Most of the springs have gone in the old sofa.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

spring
III. where water comes up
ADJ. hot, thermal | bubbling | mineral, mountain
SPRING + VERB bubble A thermal spring bubbled up out of the rocks.
SPRING + NOUN water

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

spring
verb
ADV. suddenly | apart, back, down, forward, out, up He sprang back in alarm.
VERB + SPRING be ready to, be waiting to The lion crouched, ready to spring.
PREP. at Therese sprang at him and kissed him on both cheeks.
into, out of He sprang out of the car.
PHRASES spring open He worked a knife blade into the drawer and it sprang open.
spring to attention The sentry sprang to attention.
spring to your feet She sprang to her feet and ran to answer the doorbell.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲