# spur

/ˈspɝ/ (US) · /spˈɜː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spur
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to encourage action

verb · CEFR B2

to encourage someone to do something or to make something happen faster.

For teachers: to incite or stimulate a person or process into more vigorous action.

- The low interest rates helped spur the housing market last year.
- The government hope that the new tax incentives will spur investment in renewable energy sectors across the country.

### 3. a motivation

noun · CEFR B2

something that acts as an incentive or makes you want to work harder.

For teachers: a stimulus or incentive that prompts an increase in activity or effort.

- The threat of a failing grade was the spur he needed to start studying.
- The sudden competition from overseas manufacturers served as a spur for the local company to modernize its production line.

### 4. rider's tool

noun · CEFR B2

a sharp metal object worn on a rider's boot to encourage a horse to move.

For teachers: a metal device with a sharp point or rowel, attached to a rider's heel for prodding a horse.

- The cowboy's spurs jingled as he walked across the wooden floor.
- The knight's silver spurs were not merely functional tools but symbols of his rank and chivalric status.

### 5. branch of a road or railway

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short road or railway track that branches off from a main line.

For teachers: a short branch line of a railway or a secondary road extending from a major thoroughfare.

- The factory is connected to the main railway by a small spur.
- The proposed highway project includes a short spur to provide direct access to the regional airport.

### 6. mountain ridge

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a part of a mountain that sticks out to the side from the main peak.

For teachers: a lateral ridge or mountain projection that extends from a main mountain mass.

- The hikers followed the rocky spur down into the valley.
- The fortress was strategically positioned on a narrow spur of the mountain, making it nearly impossible to attack from the rear.

### 7. botany/plant part

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a short side branch on a tree, often where fruit grows.

For teachers: a short, thick side shoot from a branch, typically one that bears fruit or flowers.

- Prune the apple tree to encourage more fruit spurs to grow.
- The orchardist carefully examined the fruit spurs to estimate the potential yield for the upcoming harvest season.

### 8. electronics/signal

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

an unwanted signal that interferes with a radio or electronic circuit.

For teachers: a spurious or unwanted signal frequency that interferes with the primary signal in a circuit.

- The engineer noticed a spur on the monitor that was ruining the signal.
- The design team worked to minimize the power of the spurs generated by the frequency synthesizer to meet regulatory standards.

## Examples

- The lower interest rates will spur more people to buy homes.
- The government hopes that the new tax breaks will spur investment in green energy projects across the country.
- The sudden arrival of a well-funded competitor served to spur the research team into a period of unprecedented productivity, resulting in three new patents within a single quarter.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.