spurt

verb

/spɜːt/

/spɜːrt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they spurt	/spɜːt/ /spɜːrt/
he / she / it spurts	/spɜːts/ /spɜːrts/
past simple spurted	/ˈspɜːtɪd/ /ˈspɜːrtɪd/
past participle spurted	/ˈspɜːtɪd/ /ˈspɜːrtɪd/
-ing form spurting	/ˈspɜːtɪŋ/ /ˈspɜːrtɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] (of liquid or flames) to burst out or pour out suddenly; to produce sudden, powerful streams of liquid or flames
- spurt (from something) Blood was spurting from her nose.
- spurt out (of/from something) Red and yellow flames spurted out of the fire.
- spurt something Her nose was spurting blood.
- spurt something + adv./prep. The volcano spurted clouds of steam and ash high into the air.
[intransitive] + adv./prep. to increase your speed for a short time to get somewhere faster
- She spurted past me to get to the line first.

Word Originmid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

noun

/spɜːt/

/spɜːrt/

Idioms

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an amount of liquid or flames that comes out of somewhere with great force
- a great spurt of blood
a sudden increase in speed, effort, activity or emotion for a short period of time
- You'd better put on a spurt (= hurry up) if you want to finish that work today.
- Babies get very hungry during growth spurts.
- a sudden spurt of anger
Extra Examples
- Boys experience a growth spurt during puberty.
- He felt a spurt of resentment against his brother.
- She put on a spurt to get to the station in time.
- With one final spurt, he reached the top of the hill.
- a spurt in capital spending
- an initial spurt of energy
- I felt a little spurt of pleasure at the prospect.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- sudden
- brief
- little
- …
verb + spurt
- put on
- feel
preposition
- with a spurt
- spurt in
- spurt of
- …
phrases
- in short spurts
See full entry

Word Originmid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Idioms

in spurts

in short periods of great activity, powerful movement, etc., rather than in a steady, continuous way
- The water came out of the tap in spurts.
- His breath came in short spurts.