spring
spring
Pronunciation
/sprɪŋ/
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: spring
Plural: springs
Verb:
Base form: spring
Third-person singular present: springs
Past tense: sprang (less commonly sprung)
Past participle: sprung
Present participle: springing
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A season of the year, following winter and preceding summer, when vegetation begins to appear.
Synonyms: springtime
Antonyms: autumn, fall, winter, summer (as contrasting seasons)
Definition 2: A coiled elastic device, typically metal, that regains its shape after being compressed or extended, used to store and release mechanical energy.
Synonyms: coil, helix, torsion bar
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; perhaps "rigid support" if contrasting its flexibility)
Definition 3: A place where water naturally flows out from the ground.
Synonyms: fount, wellspring, geyser (if hot), source
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; perhaps "dry well" as a conceptual opposite)
Definition 4: A sudden, rapid jump or bound.
Synonyms: leap, jump, hop, bound, pounce
Antonyms: fall, drop, descent
Verb
Definition 1: To move or jump suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction.
Synonyms: leap, jump, bound, pounce, dart
Antonyms: fall, drop, descend, land
Definition 2: (Of water) to flow or gush out from the ground.
Synonyms: gush, well, issue, flow
Antonyms: dry up, cease, recede
Definition 3: To appear suddenly or originate from something.
Synonyms: emerge, arise, appear, originate, materialize
Antonyms: disappear, vanish, recede, fade
Definition 4: To cause a trap or mechanism to be activated suddenly.
Synonyms: trigger, activate, set off, trip
Antonyms: deactivate, disarm, disable
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859)
Newspapers:
"The local economy is showing signs of a strong spring rebound, with retail sales up significantly from last year." (The Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Researchers have identified a new species of freshwater fish in a remote mountain spring, highlighting the region's rich biodiversity." (Mongabay.com)
"Sales of electric vehicles are expected to spring forward in the coming year, driven by new government incentives and expanding charging infrastructure." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne uses a small rock hammer to eventually spring himself from prison. (Released 1994)
Music: The song "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles contains the lyric, "Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter / Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here / Here comes the sun, here comes the sun / And I say it's all right / Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces / Little darling, it seems like spring is coming." (Released 1969)
Video Games: In the game Minecraft, players can craft and use "slime blocks" which have a bouncy property, allowing players to "spring" high into the air. (First released 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"I can't wait for spring to arrive so we can start planting our garden." (Heard in a conversation)
"Be careful, the lid on that old trunk has a strong spring and can snap shut quickly." (Heard in a conversation)
"The police managed to spring the trap on the perpetrators, catching them in the act." (Commentary on a news report)
10 Quotes Using Spring
"A man's heart is a spring of life; but a fool's heart is a leaking bucket." (Proverbs 4:23, King James Version)
"The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month." (Henry Van Dyke)
"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." (Proverb)
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast." (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man, 1733)
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant." (Anne Bradstreet)
"From the deepest desires often spring the deadliest hate." (Socrates)
"Life springs from death." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"Be patient where you are. The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. The mighty oak from tiny acorn springs." (Proverb)
"The true path to success is to use your strengths and let them spring from you." (Tom Rath)
"The spring is a wonderful time to be alive, full of new beginnings and fresh possibilities." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "spring" has a fascinating history, with its different meanings all connected by a common idea of sudden movement or bursting forth.
The very oldest known use of "spring" was as a verb in Old English (before the 12th century). It meant "to leap," "to burst forth," "to fly up," or "to grow." Think of something springing out of the ground, or a person springing into action. This sense is linked to even older Germanic and Proto-Indo-European roots that conveyed the idea of movement, hurrying, or even eagerly wishing.
From this original verb meaning, other uses of "spring" developed:
A Natural Water Flow: Because water "bursts forth" or "springs" out of the ground, the word came to be used for a natural source of water, like a spring or a wellspring. This meaning also appeared in Old English.
The Season: The season we call "spring" got its name because it's the time of year when plants "spring" up from the ground, new leaves "spring" forth on trees, and life generally "bursts forth" after winter. While the season was originally called "lent" (meaning "lengthening" of days), by the 14th century, phrases like "springing time" and "the spring of the year" became common, eventually shortening to just "spring."
A Mechanical Device: The coiled metal device we call a "spring" is named for its ability to "spring back" to its original shape after being compressed or stretched. This meaning emerged later, around the 15th century, when such devices started to be used in clocks and other mechanisms.
So, at its core, all the various meanings of "spring" revolve around that original idea of something moving suddenly, appearing, or bursting into existence.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Spring
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "spring":
Spring to mind: To suddenly remember or think of something.
Spring into action: To begin to act quickly and energetically.
Spring a leak: To suddenly develop a hole or crack through which liquid or gas can escape.
Spring a surprise: To do something unexpected that surprises someone.
Spring to life: To suddenly become active, lively, or functional.
Spring chicken: A young and inexperienced person (often used in the negative, e.g., "She's no spring chicken").
Spring fever: A feeling of restlessness and excitement, often associated with the arrival of spring.
Spring from: To originate or derive from something.
Spring back: To return quickly to a previous condition or position.
A spring in one's step: A lively, energetic, and happy way of walking.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of spring from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
