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spring
spring / spring/ • v. (past sprang / sprang/ or sprung / sprəng/ ; past part. sprung) 1. [intr.] move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward: I sprang out of bed | fig. they sprang to her defense. ∎ [intr.] move rapidly or suddenly from a constrained position by or as if by the action of a spring: the drawer sprang open. ∎ operate or cause to operate by means of a mechanism: [tr.] he prepared to spring his trap | [intr.] the engine sprang into life. ∎ [tr.] cause (a game bird) to rise from cover. ∎ [tr.] inf. bring about the escape or release of (a prisoner): the president sought to spring the hostages. 2. [intr.] (spring from) originate or arise from: madness and creativity could spring from the same source. ∎ appear suddenly or unexpectedly from: tears sprang from his eyes. ∎ (spring up) suddenly develop or appear: a terrible storm sprang up. ∎ [tr.] (spring something on) present or propose something suddenly or unexpectedly to (someone): we decided to spring a surprise on them. 3. [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (sprung) cushion or fit (a vehicle or item of furniture) with springs: a fully sprung mattress. 4. [intr.] (esp. of wood) become warped or split. ∎ [tr.] (of a boat) suffer splitting of (a mast or other part). 5. [intr.] (spring for) inf. pay for, esp. as a treat for someone else: he's never offered to spring for dinner. ∎ [tr.] archaic spend (money): he might spring a few pennies more. • n. 1. the season after winter and before summer, in which vegetation begins to appear, in the northern hemisphere from March to May and in the southern hemisphere from September to November: in spring the garden is a feast of blossom | [as adj.] spring rain | fig. he was in the spring of his years. ∎ Astron. the period from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice. ∎ short for spring tide. 2. a resilient device, typically a helical metal coil, that can be pressed or pulled but returns to its former shape when released, used chiefly to exert constant tension or absorb movement. ∎ the ability to spring back strongly; elasticity: the mattress has lost its spring. 3. [in sing.] a sudden jump upward or forward: with a sudden spring, he leapt onto the table. ∎ inf., dated an escape or release from prison. 4. a place where water or oil wells up from an underground source, or the basin or flow formed in such a way: [as adj.] spring water. ∎ fig. the origin or a source of something: the place was a spring of musical talent. 5. an upward curvature of a ship's deck planking from the horizontal. ∎ a split in a wooden plank or spar under strain. PHRASES: spring a leak (of a boat or container) develop a leak. DERIVATIVES: spring·less adj. spring·like / -ˌlīk/ adj. |
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"spring." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spring." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-spring.html "spring." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-spring.html |
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spring
spring in geology, natural flow of water from the ground or from rocks, representing an outlet for the water that has accumulated in permeable rock strata underground. Some of the water that falls as rain soaks into the soil and is drawn downward by gravity to a depth where all openings and pore spaces in the rock or soil have become completely saturated with water. This region is called the zone of saturation, and the water it holds, groundwater. The upper surface of the zone of saturation is called the water table. Above the water table lies the zone of aeration, where the pore spaces in the soil are quite dry and are filled with air. When the upper surface of the groundwater (water table) intersects a sloping land surface, a spring appears. The occurrence of springs is closely related to the geology of an area. If an impervious layer of rock, such as a clay deposit, underlies a layer of saturated soil or rock, then a line of springs will tend to appear on a slope where the clay layer outcrops. Igneous rocks are also impervious to water, yet they are often extensively fractured, and springs commonly appear where these fractures come to the surface. Fractures in limestone are often enlarged by the dissolving action of groundwater, forming small underground channels and caves. Where these channels outcrop, springs are likely to be found. Springs are common along major faults because groundwater reaches the surface along the fault plane. Lines of springs help locate the position of faults such as the San Andreas of California. Springs can be a valuable water resource, and improvement in flow can often be accomplished simply by driving a pipe into the ground at the point where water seeps from the ground. Sometimes it is advisable to divert the spring water into a cistern or other storage reservoir from which the water can be pumped at will. When the water, because of the geological structure of the strata, issues under pressure, the spring is called artesian (see artesian well ). Another type of spring is the geyser . Hot springs occur when the water issues from great depths or is heated by near-surface hot volcanic rock, as in Yellowstone National Park, Iceland, and New Zealand. Mineral springs are those with a high mineral content, usually silica or lime, dissolved from the rocks through which the water has passed (see mineral water ). Many ancient city-states, such as Troy, had their sites determined by springs. Pioneer farmhouses often were located in the same way. |
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"spring." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spring." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-spring1.html "spring." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-spring1.html |
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spring
spring the season after winter and before summer, in which vegetation begins to appear, in the northern hemisphere from March to May and in the southern hemisphere from September to November; in figurative usage, a time of youth and strength, associated with fresh growth. The word is recorded in Middle English in the obsolete sense of ‘the first sign of day, the beginning of a season’; as a name for the season, it dates from late Middle English.
it is not spring until you can plant your foot upon twelve daisies proverbial saying, mid 19th century; meaning that mild spring weather is only assured when daisies are flowering thickly on the grass (the given number of flowers may vary). spring tide a tide just after a new or full moon, when there is the greatest difference between high and low water. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spring." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spring." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-spring.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spring." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-spring.html |
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Spring
607. Spring
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"Spring." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Spring." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505500616.html "Spring." Allusions--Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. 1986. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505500616.html |
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spring
spring
1. A flow of water above ground level that occurs where the water-table intercepts the ground surface. Where the flow from a spring is not distinct (i.e. it does not give rise to obvious trickles) but tends to be somewhat dispersed, the flow is more correctly termed a ‘seep’. The reappearance of surface water that had been diverted underground in a karst region is a type of spring known as a ‘resurgence’. A major variety is the ‘Vauclusian spring’, named after the Fontaine de Vaucluse, southern France, and descriptive of the upward emergence of an underground river from a flooded solution channel. 2. See springwood. |
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-spring.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-spring.html |
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spring
spring A flow of water above ground level that occurs where the water-table intercepts the ground surface. Where the flow from a spring is not distinct (i.e. it does not give rise to obvious trickles) but tends to be somewhat dispersed, the flow is more correctly termed a ‘seep’. The reappearance of surface water that had been diverted underground in a karst region is a type of spring known as a ‘resurgence’. A major variety is the ‘Vauclusian spring’, named after the Fontaine de Vaucluse, southern France, and descriptive of the upward emergence of an underground river from a flooded solution channel.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-spring.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-spring.html |
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spring
spring.
1. See berthing hawsers. 2. As a verb, it describes the action when one of the ends, or butts, of a plank of a wooden hull breaks loose from the copper nails, or treenails, that secure it to a ship's timbers. Because the plank's shape is bent to the curve of the hull, it springs outwards and projects beyond the curve of the hull. When this happens it is said to be sprung. Similarly, the verb is used to describe the wooden mast or spar of a vessel when a crack develops and needs to be fished, or, if very badly sprung, replaced. |
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"spring." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spring." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-spring.html "spring." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-spring.html |
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spring
spring1
A. place of rising, as of a stream OE.; B. action or time of rising or beginning XIII; † C. young growth XIII; D. first season of the year XVI (earlier †springing time XIV, spring time XV, etc.); E. rising of the sea to its extreme height XIV (s. tide XVI); F. elastic contrivance XV. OE. spriŋg, spryng, f. Gmc *sprenʒ-, *sprunʒ- (see next); in sense E perh. of LG. or Du. orig. |
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T. F. HOAD. "spring." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "spring." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-spring.html T. F. HOAD. "spring." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-spring.html |
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spring
spring v. past sprang or sprung; past part. sprung
n. 1. short for spring tide. 2. an upward curvature of a ship's deck planking from the horizontal. 3. a split in a wooden plank or spar under strain. 4. a hawser laid out diagonally aft from a ship's bow or forward from a ship's stern and secured to a fixed point in order to prevent movement or assist maneuvering. |
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"spring." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spring." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-spring.html "spring." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-spring.html |
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Spring
Springa group of animals or birds flushed from their covert; a flow of water or similar flow; a copse or grove of young trees; young shoots or new growth. Examples : spring of blood, 1596; of honour, 1509; of all my joys, 1709; of oaks; of plants, 1601; of roses, 1667; of talk, 1818; of teal, 1450; of thoughts, 1892; of waters of grace, 1440; of wood, 1483. |
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"Spring." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Spring." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301459.html "Spring." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301459.html |
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spring
spring2 pt. sprang, pp. sprung bound, leap (up, etc.); issue forth; grow OE.; originate XII; cause (a bird) to rise XVI. OE. springan = OS., OHG. springan (Du., G. springen), ON. springa :- Gmc. *sprenʒan, f. base rel. to *sprunʒ-, repr. in prec. and (O)HG. sprung, (M)Du. sprong.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "spring." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "spring." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-spring1.html T. F. HOAD. "spring." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-spring1.html |
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spring
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "spring." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "spring." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-spring.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "spring." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-spring.html |
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spring
spring See SPRINGWOOD.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-spring.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "spring." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-spring.html |
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spring
spring
•Beijing, bing, bring, Chungking, cling, ding, dingaling, fling, I Ching, king, Kunming, ling, Ming, Nanjing, Peking, ping, ring, sing, Singh, sling, spring, sting, string, swing, Synge, thing, ting, wing, wring, Xining, zing
•saying, slaying
•bricklaying • minelaying
•being, far-seeing, unseeing
•sightseeing • well-being
•blackberrying
•dairying, unvarying
•unwearying
•self-pitying, unpitying
•belying, dying, lying, self-denying, tying, vying
•unedifying • unsatisfying • outlying
•drawing • underdrawing
•easygoing, flowing, going, knowing, mowing, outgoing, showing, sowing, thoroughgoing, toing and froing
•seagoing • ongoing • foregoing
•theatregoing • churchgoing
•following • borrowing • annoying
•bluing, doing, misdoing
•evil-doing • wrongdoing
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"spring." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spring." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-spring.html "spring." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-spring.html |
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