spring

1 /sprIN/ noun

1 SEASON (C, U) the season between winter and summer when leaves and flowers appear: It was a cold, sunny day in early spring | the spring of 1933 | spring flowers

2 BED/CARS ETC

a) (countable usually plural) something, usually a twisted piece of metal, that will return to its previous shape after it has been pressed down

b) (U) the ability of a chair, bed etc to return to its normal shape after being pressed down: There's not much spring in this old sofa.

3 WATER (C) a place where water comes up naturally from the ground: The islands are renowned for their thermal springs and sulphur baths.

4 with a spring in your step if you walk with a spring in your step, you move quickly and cheerfully

5 SUDDEN JUMP (singular) a sudden quick movement or jump in a particular direction

2 verb past tense sprang also sprung, AmE past participle sprung

1 MOVE SUDDENLY (intransitive always + adv/prep) to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, especially by jumping

(+ out of/from/towards etc): Tom sprung out of bed and rushed to the window. | A kitten sprang from under the bush. | spring to your feet (=stand up suddenly)

2 EXPRESSION/TEARS (intransitive always + adv/prep) to appear suddenly on someone's face or in their eyes

(+ into/to): Tears sprang into her eyes as she started telling them what had happened.

3 MOVE BACK (intransitive always + adv/prep) to move quickly back again after being pushed downwards or sideways

(+ back/up): The branch sprang back and hit him in the face.

4 spring to mind if someone or something springs to mind you immediately think of them: Nobody's name actually springs to mind as an ideal candidate.

5 spring into action also spring to life to suddenly become active: The whole town would spring into action at carnival time.

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

7 spring open/shut to open or close suddenly and quickly: The lid of the box sprang open.

8 spring a trap

a) if an animal springs a trap, it makes the trap move and catch it

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 spring a surprise to make something unexpected or unusual happen

13 PRISON (T) informal to help someone escape from prison: A gangland boss was recently sprung from Dartmoor prison.

spring from phrasal verb (T) spoken

1 to be caused by something: Her rudeness to other people springs from a basic insecurity.

2 where did you/she etc spring from? used to express surprise when you suddenly see someone who you thought was somewhere else

spring sth on sb phrasal verb (T) to tell someone some news that surprises or shocks them spring up phrasal verb (I) to suddenly appear or start to exist: Fast-food restaurants are springing up all over town. | A strong wind seemed to have sprung up from nowhere.