spur

spur — noun

1. a small metal wheel with sharp points, worn on the heel of a riding boot and pre

1.nounB1
Definition

a small metal wheel with sharp points, worn on the heel of a riding boot and pressed into a horse's side to tell it to go faster.

Example

Jisoo fastened the silver spur onto her boot before the morning trail ride.

collocation: fasten a spur

The museum display case held a rusty spur from the nineteenth century.

Common collocations
  • fasten a spur
  • wear a spur
  • press a spur
  • a pair of spurs

2. a narrow ridge of rock or soil that runs outward from the main body of a mountai

2.nounB2
Definition

a narrow ridge of rock or soil that runs outward from the main body of a mountain.

Example

The hiking trail followed a rocky spur that offered views of the valley below.

geographical feature: spur of a mountain

From the cabin, the family could see a wooded spur running to the river.

Common collocations
  • rocky spur
  • wooded spur
  • narrow spur
  • broad spur
Synonyms
  • ridge

    a ridge is a long, narrow top of connected high ground; a spur is specifically a side projection from a larger mountain or hill

Usage Note

Common in geographical descriptions and hiking trail guides. Often preceded by a descriptive adjective (rocky, wooded, narrow, broad).

3. something that gives you a reason or motivation to act with more energy, speed,

3.nounB2
Definition

something that gives you a reason or motivation to act with more energy, speed, or determination.

Example

A promised bonus was a spur for the team to finish the project early.

pattern: a spur for + noun phrase

A critic's good review can be a spur for a young writer to improve.

Common collocations
  • a spur to action
  • a spur for growth
  • act as a spur
  • serve as a spur
Synonyms
  • incentive

    more formal, often refers to a concrete reward or benefit offered to encourage action

  • motivation

    broader in scope, can refer to internal or external reasons for acting

  • stimulus

    more technical or formal, often used in economics or psychology

Antonyms
  • discouragement

    something that reduces someone's confidence or willingness to act

Grammar Patterns

a spur to + noun

a spur for + noun

a spur to + infinitive

Usage Note

Often paired with 'as' (acted as a spur, served as a spur). Typically used in singular form. The object of 'for' or 'to' is usually the person or group being encouraged.

Common Mistakes

The reward was a spur of the team.
The reward was a spur for the team.
use 'for' or 'to', not 'of', to indicate who is encouraged.

4. a short road or railway line that connects to a bigger, busier route and serves

4.nounC1
Definition

a short road or railway line that connects to a bigger, busier route and serves a local area or facility.

Example

A narrow railway spur carried goods from the factory to the main line.

collocation: railway spur

The truck turned onto a dirt spur that led to the warehouse district outside town.

Common collocations
  • railway spur
  • road spur
  • build a spur
  • a spur line
Synonyms
  • branch line

    synonymous for railways, though 'branch line' may be longer and serve multiple stops

  • side road

    used for roads, but less specific — a side road does not necessarily connect to a main route

Usage Note

Common in transport planning, logistics, and civil engineering contexts. 'Railway spur' and 'road spur' are the two most frequent compound forms.

Idioms

on the spur of the moment

idiom

suddenly, without having planned or thought about it beforehand.

They decided on the spur of the moment to drive to the coast for the weekend.

Jisoo made a spur-of-the-moment decision to book a flight to visit her grandmother.

win / earn your spurs

idiom

to prove your ability or skill in a particular area and gain recognition or respect as a result.

The young lawyer earned her spurs by winning a difficult court case.

Hamza won his spurs as a chef after just six months at the busy restaurant.

win/earn your spurs

idiom

To achieve recognition or success through effort or skill.

Maya earned her spurs as a top salesperson last quarter.

Did Diego win his spurs by leading the project to completion?

spur — verb

Word family

  • spurred
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five verbs describe causing someone to take action, but they differ in strength, source, and formality. 'Spur' suggests an external push that makes someone act with greater speed or urgency — often in response to a deadline, challenge, or opportunity. 'Motivate' is broader, covering both internal desires (passion, curiosity) and external rewards; it feels less urgent than spur. 'Prompt' describes a direct trigger for a specific action, like a question prompting an answer or a noise prompting someone to look up — it is lighter and more immediate. 'Stimulate' is more formal and often used for intellectual, economic, or biological processes (stimulate the economy, stimulate interest). 'Drive' is the strongest, implying relentless internal determination (her ambition drove her to succeed). For a learner choosing between them: 'The news spurred the government to act' suggests urgency; 'The news prompted the government to act' suggests a logical response; 'The news motivated the government to act' suggests willingness.

spur ↗motivate ↗prompt ↗stimulate ↗drive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'spur' comes from Old English 'spura' or 'spora', which goes back to a Proto-Germanic root *spurō meaning 'that which kicks'. This root is related to the verb 'spurn' (to kick away) and to 'spoor' (an animal's track or footprint). From its original meaning as a metal device worn on a rider's heel, the word developed a figurative sense in the 13th century — a 'spur' as anything that urges or encourages action.