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   spur

   /spəː/

   noun

   • 1. a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward.
   • ▪ a horny spike on the back of the leg of a cock or male game bird, used in fighting.
   • ▪ a steel point fastened to the leg of a gamecock.
   • 2. a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive: "wars act as a spur to practical invention" Similar stimulusincentiveencouragementstimulantstimulationinducementimpetusprodpromptincitementgoadfillipmotivemotivationinformal:kick up the backsideshot in the armOpposite disincentivediscouragement
   • 3. a projection from a mountain or mountain range: "it's an easy walk up the spur that leads to the summit"
   • ▪ a short branch road or railway line.
   • ▪ a slender tubular projection from the base of a flower, e.g. a honeysuckle or orchid, typically containing nectar.
   • ▪ a short fruit-bearing side shoot.
   • ▪ a short pointed growth or process on a part of the body.
   • 4. a small, single-pointed support for ceramic ware in a kiln.

   verb

   • 1. urge (a horse) forward by digging one's spurs into its sides: "she spurred her horse towards the hedge"
   • 2. give an incentive or encouragement to (someone): "her sons' passion for computer games spurred her on to set up a software business"
   • ▪ promote the development of; stimulate: "governments cut interest rates to spur demand"
   • 3. prune in (a side shoot of a plant) so as to form a spur close to the stem: "spur back the lateral shoots"

   Word Origin Old Englishspora, spura, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch spoor and German Sporn, also to spurn.

   Derivatives

   • 1. spurless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • U

     1

   • R

     1

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