spring

noun

/sprɪŋ/

Idioms

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season

[uncountable, countable] the season between winter and summer when plants begin to grow

The following spring, the three artists travelled to California.
in (the) spring flowers that bloom in (the) spring
The birds arrive in late spring and leave again in early autumn.
He was born in the spring of 1944.
Spring came early that year.
There's a feeling of spring in the air today.
spring flowers

Extra Examples

The students spend the whole spring term on teaching practice.
a delicious recipe for spring lamb
a perfect spring day
the party's spring conference
to plant spring bulbs

Topics Timea1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

last
this past
the following
…

spring + noun

weather
sun
sunlight
…

See full entry

water

[countable] a place where water comes naturally to the surface from under the ground

a mountain spring
mineral/thermal springs
The area is noted for its hot springs and geysers.
deliciously cool spring water

Topics Geographyb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

hot
thermal
bubbling
…

spring + verb

bubble

spring + noun

water

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wire

enlarge image

[countable] a twisted piece of wire that can be pushed, pressed or pulled but which always returns to its original shape or position afterwards

bed springs
The springs in the sofa have gone (= they no longer return to their original position).
She's full of energy, like a coiled spring.

cheerful quality

[uncountable, singular] a cheerful, lively quality

She walked along with a spring in her step.

sudden jump

[countable] a quick sudden jump upwards or forwards

With a spring, the cat leapt on to the table.

Word OriginOld English spring (noun), springan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German springen. Early use in the senses ‘head of a well’ and ‘rush out in a stream’ gave rise to the figurative use ‘originate’.

Idioms

full of the joys of spring

very cheerful

spring

verb

/sprɪŋ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they spring	/sprɪŋ/ /sprɪŋ/
he / she / it springs	/sprɪŋz/ /sprɪŋz/
past simple sprang	/spræŋ/ /spræŋ/
(North American English also) past simple sprung	/sprʌŋ/ /sprʌŋ/
past participle sprung	/sprʌŋ/ /sprʌŋ/
-ing form springing	/ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/ /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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jump/move suddenly

[intransitive] (of a person or an animal) to move suddenly and with one quick movement in a particular direction synonym leap

The cat crouched ready to spring.
+ adv./prep. He turned off the alarm and sprang out of bed.
She sprang back in alarm.
Eric sprang forward and tackled the man to the ground.
Everyone sprang to their feet (= stood up suddenly) when the principal walked in.
She sprang from her chair and gave me a warm hug.
The attacker sprang out at her from a doorway.
(figurative) to spring to somebody's defence/assistance (= to quickly defend or help somebody)

Extra Examples

He sprang out of the car.
Lisa sprang at him and kissed him on both cheeks.
She sprang to her feet and ran to answer the doorbell.
The sentry sprang to attention.
One of the young police officers sprang to her assistance.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

suddenly
apart
away
…

verb + spring

be ready to
be waiting to

preposition

at
into
off
…

phrases

spring open
spring to attention
spring to your feet
…

See full entry

[intransitive] (of an object) to move suddenly and violently

+ adv./prep. The branch sprang back and hit him in the face.
+ adj. She turned the key and the lid sprang open.

Extra Examples

He worked a knife blade into the drawer and it sprang open.
The drawer sprang open.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

suddenly
apart
away
…

verb + spring

be ready to
be waiting to

preposition

at
into
off
…

phrases

spring open
spring to attention
spring to your feet
…

See full entry

surprise

[transitive] to do something, ask something or say something that somebody is not expecting

spring something She sprang a surprise by winning the tournament.
spring something on somebody I'm sorry to spring it on you, but I've been offered another job.

appear suddenly

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to appear or come somewhere suddenly

Tears sprang to her eyes.
He tried to bite back the words that sprang to his lips.

free prisoner

[transitive] spring somebody (informal) to help a prisoner to escape

Plans to spring the hostages have failed.

Idioms

come/spring to mind

if something comes/springs to mind, you suddenly remember or think of it
- When discussing influential modern artists, three names immediately come to mind.
- I'm sure someone can help you, but no one immediately springs to mind.

hope springs eternal

(saying) people never stop hoping

spring into action | spring into/to life

(of a person, machine, etc.) to suddenly start working or doing something
- ‘Let's go!’ he said, springing into action.
- The town springs to life (= becomes busy) during the carnival.

spring a leak

(of a boat or container) to develop a hole through which water or another liquid can pass

spring a trap

to make a trap for catching animals close suddenly
to try to trick somebody into doing or saying something; to succeed in this