spur
noun
[ spəː ]
• a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward.
• a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive.
• "wars act as a spur to practical invention"
Similar:
stimulus,
incentive,
encouragement,
stimulant,
stimulation,
inducement,
impetus,
prod,
prompt,
incitement,
goad,
fillip,
motive,
motivation,
kick up the backside,
shot in the arm,
• a projection from a mountain or mountain range.
• "it's an easy walk up the spur that leads to the summit"
• a small, single-pointed support for ceramic ware in a kiln.
spur
verb
• urge (a horse) forward by digging one's spurs into its sides.
• "she spurred her horse towards the hedge"
• give an incentive or encouragement to (someone).
• "her sons' passion for computer games spurred her on to set up a software business"
Similar:
stimulate,
give the incentive to,
act as a stimulus/incentive to,
encourage,
prompt,
propel,
prod,
induce,
impel,
motivate,
move,
galvanize,
inspire,
urge,
drive,
egg on,
stir,
incite,
goad,
provoke,
prick,
sting,
root on,
light a fire under,
• prune in (a side shoot of a plant) so as to form a spur close to the stem.
• "spur back the lateral shoots"
Origin:
Old English spora, spura, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch spoor and German Sporn, also to spurn.
