1 VERB If an organization or an individual sponsors something such as an event or someone's training, they pay some or all of the expenses connected with it, often in order to get publicity for themselves. □ [be V -ed] The competition was sponsored by Ruinart Champagne.
2 VERB In Britain, if you sponsor someone who is doing something to raise money for charity, for example trying to walk a certain distance, you agree to give them a sum of money for the charity if they succeed in doing it. □ [V n] Please could you sponsor me for my school's campaign for Help the Aged?
3 VERB If you sponsor a proposal or suggestion, you officially put it forward and support it. □ [V n] Eight senators sponsored legislation to stop the military funding.
4 VERB When a country or an organization such as the United Nations sponsors negotiations between countries, it suggests holding the negotiations and organizes them. □ [V n] The superpowers may well have difficulties sponsoring negotiations.
5 VERB If one country accuses another of sponsoring attacks on it, they mean that the other country does not do anything to prevent the attacks, and may even encourage them. □ [V n] We have to make the states that sponsor terrorism pay a price.
6 VERB If a company or organization sponsors a television programme, they pay to have a special advertisement shown at the beginning and end of the programme, and at each commercial break. □ [V n] Companies will now be able to sponsor programmes on ITV and Channel 4.
7 N‑COUNT A sponsor is a person or organization that sponsors something or someone. □ [+ of ] I understand they are to be named as the new sponsors of the League Cup. COLLOCATIONS sponsor VERB 1
sponsor + noun : competition, event, exhibition; programme, project, scheme
noun + sponsor : company, firm
sponsor + adverb : jointly, proudly NOUN 7
noun + sponsor : club, company, event
adjective + sponsor : major, main, potential, principal; corporate, official; proud
verb + sponsor : attract, find, need, seek; name, thank
spon|sored /spɒ nsə r d/ ADJ [ADJ n] In Britain, a sponsored event is an event in which people try to do something such as walk or run a particular distance in order to raise money for charity. □ The sponsored walk will raise money for AIDS care.
spon|sor|ship /spɒ nsə r ʃ I p/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Sponsorship is financial support given by a sponsor. □ Campbell is one of an ever-growing number of skiers in need of sponsorship.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Sponsorship of something is the act of sponsoring it. □ When it is done properly, arts sponsorship can be more effective than advertising.
spon|ta|neity /spɒ ntəne I I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Spontaneity is spontaneous, natural behaviour. □ He had the spontaneity of a child.
spon|ta|neous /spɒnte I niəs/
1 ADJ Spontaneous acts are not planned or arranged, but are done because someone suddenly wants to do them. □ Their spontaneous outbursts of song were accompanied by lively music. ● spon|ta|neous|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ As soon as the tremor passed, many people spontaneously arose and cheered.
2 ADJ A spontaneous event happens because of processes within something rather than being caused by things outside it. □ I had another spontaneous miscarriage at around the 16th to 18th week. ● spon|ta|neous|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ Usually a woman's breasts produce milk spontaneously after the birth.
spoof /spuː f/ (spoofs ) N‑COUNT A spoof is something such as an article or television programme that seems to be about a serious matter but is actually a joke. □ …a spoof on Hollywood life.
spook /spuː k/ (spooks , spooking , spooked )
1 N‑COUNT A spook is a ghost. [INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A spook is a spy. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ …as a U.S. intelligence spook said yesterday.
3 VERB If people are spooked , something has scared them or made them nervous. [mainly AM ] □ [V n] But was it the wind that spooked her? □ [be V -ed] Investors were spooked by slowing economies. ● spooked ADJ [v-link ADJ ] □ He was so spooked that he began to believe he heard strange clicks on the telephone.
spooky /spuː ki/ (spookier , spookiest ) ADJ A place that is spooky has a frightening atmosphere, and makes you feel that there are ghosts around. [INFORMAL ] □ The whole place has a slightly spooky atmosphere.
spool /spuː l/ (spools ) N‑COUNT A spool is a round object onto which thread, tape, or film can be wound, especially before it is put into a machine.
spoon /spuː n/ (spoons , spooning , spooned )
1 N‑COUNT A spoon is an object used for eating, stirring, and serving food. One end of it is shaped like a shallow bowl and it has a long handle. □ He stirred his coffee with a spoon.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an amount of food resting on a spoon as a spoon of food. □ [+ of ] …tea with two spoons of sugar.
3 VERB If you spoon food into something, you put it there with a spoon. □ [V n prep] He spooned instant coffee into two of the mugs.
4 → see also greasy spoon , slotted spoon , soup spoon , wooden spoon
5 PHRASE If you think that someone has a lot of advantages because they have a rich or influential family, you can say that they have been born with a silver spoon in their mouth . □ She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and everything has been done for her.