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2 VERB When leaves, shoots, or plants sprout somewhere, they grow there. □ [V prep] Leaf-shoots were beginning to sprout on the hawthorn.

3 VERB [no passive] If a garden or other area of land sprouts plants, they start to grow there. □ [V n] …the garden, which had had time to sprout a shocking collection of weeds.

4 VERB [no passive] If something such as hair sprouts from a person or animal, or if they sprout it, it grows on them. □ [V prep] She has little wire-rimmed glasses and whiskers sprouting from her chin. □ [V n] Kevin is sprouting a few grey hairs.

5 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Sprouts are vegetables that look like tiny cabbages. They are also called brussels sprouts .

6 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Sprouts are new shoots on plants. □  After eleven days of growth the number of sprouts was counted.

spruce /spruː s/ (spruce , spruces , sprucing , spruced )

1 N‑VAR A spruce is a kind of evergreen tree. □  Trees such as spruce, pine and oak have been planted. □  …a young blue spruce. □  …80-year-old spruces. ● N‑UNCOUNT Spruce is the wood from this tree. □  Early settlers built frames of spruce, maple and pine.

2 ADJ Someone who is spruce is very neat and smart in appearance. □  Chris was looking spruce in his stiff-collared black shirt and new short hair cut.

▸  spruce up PHRASAL VERB If something is spruced up , its appearance is improved. If someone is spruced up , they have made themselves look very smart. □ [be V -ed P ] Many buildings have been spruced up. □ [V n P ] In the evening we spruced ourselves up a bit and went out for dinner.

sprung /sprʌ ŋ/ Sprung is the past participle of spring .

spry /spra I / ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone, especially an old person, who is spry , is lively and active. □  The old gentleman was as spry as ever.

spud /spʌ d/ (spuds ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Spuds are potatoes. [INFORMAL ]

spun /spʌ n/ Spun is the past tense and past participle of spin .

spunk /spʌ ŋk/ N‑UNCOUNT Spunk is courage. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □  I admired her independence and her spunk.

spunky /spʌ ŋki/ (spunkier , spunkiest ) ADJ A spunky person shows courage. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □  She's so spunky and spirited.

spur ◆◇◇ /spɜː ^r / (spurs , spurring , spurred )

1 VERB If one thing spurs you to do another, it encourages you to do it. □ [V n to-inf] It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsy boats. □ [V n + to/into ] His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part. ● PHRASAL VERB Spur on means the same as spur . □ [V n P ] Their attitude, rather than reining him back, only seemed to spur Philip on. □ [V n P + to ] We may not like criticism, but it can spur us on to greater things. [Also V P n (not pron), V n P to-inf]

2 VERB If something spurs a change or event, it makes it happen faster or sooner. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] The administration may put more emphasis on spurring economic growth.

3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Something that acts as a spur to something else encourages a person or organization to do that thing or makes it happen more quickly. □ [+ to ] …a belief in competition as a spur to efficiency.

4 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Spurs are small metal wheels with sharp points that are attached to the heels of a rider's boots. The rider uses them to make their horse go faster.

5 N‑COUNT The spur of a hill or mountain is a piece of ground which sticks out from its side.

6 PHRASE If you do something on the spur of the moment , you do it suddenly, without planning it beforehand. □  They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment.