The meaning of Spur

verb

Operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

Usage examples:

He got into his car and drove off

noun

(of a fact or feeling) compel (someone) to act in a particular way, especially one that is considered undesirable or inappropriate.

Usage examples:

He was driven by ambition

verb

To travel in a motor vehicle, esp. as the person who operates it

Usage examples:

[ t ] we drove 40 miles to visit my aunt., [ i ] she drove through pennsylvania to ohio., [ i ] she…

verb

Give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).

Usage examples:

We were encouraged by the success of this venture

verb

To make someone more likely to do something, or to make something more likely to happen

Usage examples:

[ t + to infinitive ] we were encouraged to learn foreign languages at school., the council is enco…

verb

To talk or behave in a way that gives someone confidence to do something

Usage examples:

Encourage someone in something they've always encouraged me in everything i've wanted to do.

noun

The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.

Usage examples:

Thank you for all your support and encouragement

noun

Words or behaviour that give someone confidence to do something

Usage examples:

Children need lots of encouragement from their parents., i could never have achieved this without t…

noun

Something which acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity.

Usage examples:

The halving of car tax would provide a fillip to sales

verb

Propel (a small object) with a flick of the fingers.

Usage examples:

He filliped him over the nose

noun

Something that causes a sudden improvement

Usage examples:

The athletics win provided a much-needed fillip to/for national pride., the news gave the stock mar…

verb

Shock or excite (someone) into taking action.

Usage examples:

The urgency of his voice galvanized them into action

noun

Galvanized steel sheeting, typically as used for roofing or fencing.

Usage examples:

The rain was beating hard against miss orilie's galvanize

verb

To cause a person or group to suddenly take action, esp. by shocking or exciting them in some way

Usage examples:

Why not use the media to galvanize the community into action?

verb

Provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.

Usage examples:

He was trying to goad her into a fight

noun

A spiked stick used for driving cattle.

Usage examples:

The ripon report suggests widespread use of sticks and electric goads, and says that some animals h…

verb

Drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something.

Usage examples:

Financial difficulties impelled him to desperate measures

verb

To force someone to do something

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] when i see them eating, i feel impelled to eat, too.

noun

The force or energy with which a body moves.

Usage examples:

Hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus

noun

A force that encourages a particular action or makes it more energetic or effective

Usage examples:

Often the impetus for change in education has had to come from outside the school establishment.

noun

A thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.

Usage examples:

Give farmers an incentive to improve their land

noun

Something that encourages a person to do something

Usage examples:

[ c ] tax incentives are sometimes effective in encouraging people to save money., [ u ] these kids…

noun

Something, especially money, that encourages a person or organization to do something

Usage examples:

Financial/fiscal/monetary incentive cash grants were part of the financial incentives given to deve…

verb

Encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour).

Usage examples:

They conspired to incite riots

noun

The action of provoking unlawful behaviour or urging someone to behave unlawfully.

Usage examples:

This amounted to an incitement to commit murder

noun

The act of encouraging someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] they were imprisoned for incitement to commit grievous bodily harm., there are …

verb

Succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something.

Usage examples:

The pickets induced many workers to stay away

verb

Cause to act in a specified manner

verb

To persuade someone to do something, or to cause something to happen

Usage examples:

They induced her to take the job by offering her a bonus., if you want me to stay, you’re going to …

noun

A thing that persuades or leads someone to do something.

Usage examples:

Companies were prepared to build only in return for massive inducements

noun

An act or a thing that is intended to make something happen or to persuade someone to do something

Usage examples:

Inducement (for sb) to do sth they offered him a large pay increase as an inducement for him to sta…

verb

Fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

Usage examples:

His philosophy inspired a later generation of environmentalists

verb

Serve as the inciting cause of

verb

Provide (someone) with a reason for doing something.

Usage examples:

He was primarily motivated by the desire for profit

verb

Give an incentive for action

verb

To make someone eager to do something

Usage examples:

Motivate sb to do sth she managed to motivate staff to work together after the merger., be motivate…

noun

A reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Usage examples:

Escape can be a strong motivation for travel

noun

Willingness to do something, or something that causes such willingness

Usage examples:

[ c ] one motivation for reducing the staff was the need to cut costs., [ u ] you need a lot of mot…

noun

Enthusiasm for doing something

Usage examples:

Many staff lack motivation and are resistant to change., a motivation for sth a major motivation fo…

noun

A reason for doing something.

Usage examples:

Police were unable to establish a motive for his murder

adjective

Producing physical or mechanical motion.

Usage examples:

The charge of gas is the motive force for every piston stroke

noun

A reason for doing something

Usage examples:

Does he have a motive for lying about where he was?, judy moved to florida because she likes it the…

verb

Go in a specified direction or manner; change position.

Usage examples:

She moved to the door

noun

A change of place, position, or state.

Usage examples:

She made a sudden move towards me

verb

Change location

verb

Make a small hole in (something) with a sharp point; pierce slightly.

Usage examples:

Prick the potatoes with a fork

noun

An act of piercing something with a sharp point.

Usage examples:

The pin prick had produced a drop of blood

verb

To make a small hole or holes in the surface of something

Usage examples:

The nurse pricked his finger to draw blood.

verb

Poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object.

Usage examples:

He prodded her in the ribs

noun

A poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object.

Usage examples:

He gave the wire netting an experimental prod

noun

(especially in ireland) a protestant.

verb

(of an event or fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling).

Usage examples:

The violence prompted a wave of refugees to flee the country

noun

An act of encouraging a hesitating speaker.

Usage examples:

With barely a prompt, barbara talked on

adjective

Done without delay; immediate.

Usage examples:

She would have died but for the prompt action of two ambulancemen

verb

Drive or push something forwards.

Usage examples:

The boat is propelled by using a very long paddle

verb

Cause to move forward with force

verb

Stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.

Usage examples:

The decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations

verb

Provide the needed stimulus for

verb

To try to make a person or an animal angry or annoyed

Usage examples:

He was trying to provoke me into a fight., i’m trying to make people think, provoke their emotions.…

noun

A substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.

Usage examples:

It is a stimulant that has a direct effect on the nervous system

adjective

Raising levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.

Usage examples:

Caffeine has stimulant effects on the heart

noun

A drug or chemical substance that encourages growth or increases activity

verb

Raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system).

Usage examples:

The women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries

verb

To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active

Usage examples:

Tax cuts will stimulate the economy., read books to stimulate your child’s imagination., some veget…

verb

To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active

Usage examples:

The government plans to cut taxes in order to stimulate the economy., stimulate growth/investment/t…

noun

Encouragement of something to make it develop or become more active.

Usage examples:

The stimulation of a revolution in intelligence affairs

noun

An action or thing that causes someone or something to become more active or enthusiastic, or to develop or operate

Usage examples:

While she was at home looking after her children, she felt deprived of intellectual stimulation., e…

noun

A thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue.

Usage examples:

Areas of the brain which respond to auditory stimuli

noun

Something that causes growth, activity, or reaction

Usage examples:

[ c ] scientists are studying the cell’s response to stimuli., [ u ] the aid package would provide …

noun

Something that encourages growth or causes activity

Usage examples:

A stimulus to sth we would support a further cut in interest rates as a stimulus to economic growth…

noun

A small sharp-pointed organ at the end of the abdomen of bees, wasps, ants, and scorpions, capable of inflicting a painful or dangerous wound by injecting poison.

Usage examples:

The poor fellow has neither the tusks of the elephant, nor the claws of the lion, nor even the horn…

verb

Wound or pierce with a sting.

Usage examples:

He was stung by a jellyfish

verb

(esp. of insects, plants, and animals) to produce a small but painful injury by making a very small hole in the skin

Usage examples:

[ i ] why do bees sting?, [ t ] cold air stung jack’s lungs., [ i ] the soap made his eyes sting., …

verb

Move a spoon or other implement round in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly.

Usage examples:

Desmond stirred his tea and ate a biscuit

noun

A slight physical movement.

Usage examples:

I stood, straining eyes and ears for the faintest stir

noun

Prison.

Usage examples:

I've spent twenty-eight years in stir

verb

Try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something.

Usage examples:

He urged her to come and stay with us

noun

A strong desire or impulse.

Usage examples:

He felt the urge to giggle

verb

To encourage someone strongly to do something or to ask that something be done

Usage examples:

Party leaders urged her to run for congress., a human/natural urge, sometimes i get an urge to go s…