1
a
: a pointed device secured to a rider's heel and used to urge on the horse
b
spurs plural
[from the acquisition of spurs by a person achieving knighthood]
: recognition and reward for achievement
won his academic spurs as the holder of a chair in a university—
James Mountford
James Mountford2
: a goad to action : stimulus
3
: something projecting like or suggesting a spur: such as
a
: a projecting root or branch of a tree, shrub, or vine
b(1)
: a stiff sharp spine (as on the wings or legs of a bird or insect)
especially
: one on a cock's leg
(2)
: a gaff for a gamecock
c
: a hollow projecting appendage of a corolla or calyx (as in larkspur or columbine)
d
e
4
a
: an angular projection, offshoot, or branch extending out beyond or away from a main body or formation
especially
: a ridge or lesser elevation that extends laterally from a mountain or mountain range
b
: a railroad track that branches off from a main line
5
: a reinforcing buttress of masonry in a fortification
spurred; spurring
1
: to urge (a horse) on with spurs
2
: to incite to action or accelerated growth or development : stimulate
3
: to put spurs on
: to spur one's horse on
Synonyms
Examples of spur in a Sentence
Noun
the threat of losing its only sports franchise was the spur the city council needed to finally do something about the rising crime rate
a weak wall that might need a spur
Verb
The reward spurred them to work harder.
Lower interest rates should spur economic growth.
He spurred the horse onward.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gayle Jennings, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024
Driving the news: Trains began running again on the Union Square spur and between North Station and Medford/Tufts around 10:30am Thursday after a 40-hour stoppage.
—Mike Deehan, Axios, 3 Oct. 2024
Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
The United States is in the midst of the biggest boom in clean energy manufacturing investments in history, spurred by laws like the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
—James Morton Turner, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spur 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
This spur to action from the executive office could hardly be more important right now.
—Gayle Jennings, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024
Driving the news: Trains began running again on the Union Square spur and between North Station and Medford/Tufts around 10:30am Thursday after a 40-hour stoppage.
—Mike Deehan, Axios, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, president-elect Donald Trump criticized the Chips Act which was passed by the Biden administration in 2022 — partly to spur domestic advanced chip manufacturing.
—Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
The United States is in the midst of the biggest boom in clean energy manufacturing investments in history, spurred by laws like the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
—James Morton Turner, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spur
Dictionary Entries Near spur
Cite this Entry
“Spur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spur. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spur
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a pointed device fastened to the back of a rider's boot and used to urge a horse on
b
plural
: recognition for achievement
2
: something that makes one want to do something : incentive
3
a
: a stiff sharp pointed part (as a horny spine on the leg of a rooster)
b
: a hollow flower part that sticks out especially on a petal (as of a columbine) or on a sepal (as of a larkspur)
4
: a mass of jagged rock coming out from the side of a mountain
5
: a short section of railway track coming away from the main line
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