The Collaborative International Dictionary
Spring \Spring\ (spr[i^]ng), v. i. [imp. Sprang (spr[a^]ng) or Sprung (spr[u^]ng); p. p. Sprung; p. pr. & vb. n. Springing.] [AS. springan; akin to D. & G. springen, OS. & OHG. springan, Icel. & Sw. springa, Dan. springe; cf. Gr. spe`rchesqai to hasten. Cf. Springe, Sprinkle.]
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To leap; to bound; to jump.
The mountain stag that springs From height to height, and bounds along the plains.
--Philips. -
To issue with speed and violence; to move with activity; to dart; to shoot.
And sudden light Sprung through the vaulted roof.
--Dryden. -
To start or rise suddenly, as from a covert.
Watchful as fowlers when their game will spring.
--Otway. To fly back; as, a bow, when bent, springs back by its elastic power.
To bend from a straight direction or plane surface; to become warped; as, a piece of timber, or a plank, sometimes springs in seasoning.
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To shoot up, out, or forth; to come to the light; to begin to appear; to emerge; as a plant from its seed, as streams from their source, and the like; -- often followed by up, forth, or out.
Till well nigh the day began to spring.
--Chaucer.To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth.
--Job xxxviii. 2 -
Do not blast my springing hopes.
--Rowe.O, spring to light; auspicious Babe, be born.
--Pope.7. To issue or proceed, as from a parent or ancestor; to result, as from a cause, motive, reason, or principle.
[They found] new hope to spring Out of despair, joy, but with fear yet linked.
--Milton. -
To grow; to thrive; to prosper.
What makes all this, but Jupiter the king, At whose command we perish, and we spring?
--Dryden.To spring at, to leap toward; to attempt to reach by a leap.
To spring forth, to leap out; to rush out.
To spring in, to rush in; to enter with a leap or in haste.
To spring on or To spring upon, to leap on; to rush on with haste or violence; to assault.
Usage examples of "to spring on".
It was coiled in a huge knot at the corner of the sty, ready to spring on whatever puny creature dared to attack.
It seemed a shitty thing to spring on them in the middle of the night.
We let the one in the lead pass, waiting to spring on the main body of the herd where they were most closely bunched.
The tiger, whose nature teaches him to delight in shedding blood, needs but the sense of smell to show him when his prey is within his reach, and by following this instinct he is enabled to measure the leap necessary to permit him to spring on his victim.