spoon|er|ism /spuː nər I zəm/ (spoonerisms ) N‑COUNT A spoonerism is a mistake made by a speaker in which the first sounds of two words are changed over, often with a humorous result, for example when someone says 'wrong load' instead of 'long road'.
spoo n-feed (spoon-feeds , spoon-feeding , spoon-fed )
1 VERB [usu passive] If you think that someone is being given too much help with something and is not making enough effort themselves, you can say they are being spoon-fed . [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [be V -ed] Students are unwilling to really work. They want to be spoon-fed.
2 VERB [usu passive] If you say that someone is spoon-fed ideas or information, you mean that they are told about them and are expected to accept them without questioning them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [be V -ed n] They were less willing to be spoon-fed doctrines from Japan.
3 VERB If you spoon-feed a small child or a sick person, you feed them using a spoon. □ [V n] Until I got better, he spoon-fed me and did everything around the house.
spoon|ful /spuː nfʊl/ (spoonfuls ) N‑COUNT You can refer to an amount of food resting on a spoon as a spoonful of food. □ [+ of ] He took a spoonful of the stew and ate it.
spoor /spʊə r / N‑SING The spoor of an animal is the marks or substances that it leaves behind as it moves along, which hunters can follow.
spo|rad|ic /spəræ d I k/ ADJ Sporadic occurrences of something happen at irregular intervals. □ …a year of sporadic fighting over northern France. ● spo|radi|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The distant thunder from the coast continued sporadically.
spore /spɔː r / (spores ) N‑COUNT Spores are cells produced by bacteria and fungi which can develop into new bacteria or fungi.
spor|ran /spɒ r ə n, [AM ] spɔː rən/ (sporrans ) N‑COUNT A sporran is a flat bag made out of leather or fur, which a Scotsman wears on a belt around his waist when he is wearing a skirt called a kilt.
sport ◆◆◇ /spɔː r t/ (sports )
1 N‑VAR Sports are games such as football and basketball and other competitive leisure activities which need physical effort and skill. □ I'd say football is my favourite sport. □ She excels at sport. □ Billy turned on a radio to get the sports news.
2 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a sport or a good sport , you mean that they cope with a difficult situation or teasing in a cheerful way. [OLD-FASHIONED , APPROVAL ] □ He was accused of having no sense of humor, of not being a good sport. COLLOCATIONS sport NOUN 1
noun + sport : contact, spectator, team; motor, water, winter
adjective + sport : competitive, elite, extreme, professional
verb + sport : enjoy, play, pursue, quit; dominate, promote; watch
sport|ing /spɔː r t I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Sporting means relating to sports or used for sports. □ …major sporting events, such as Wimbledon and the World Cup finals. □ …a huge sporting goods store.
2 PHRASE If you have a sporting chance of doing something, it is quite likely that you will do that thing. □ There was a sporting chance they would meet, but not necessarily at the party.
spo rts car (sports cars ) N‑COUNT A sports car is a low, fast car, usually with room for only two people.
sports|cast /spɔː r tskɑːst, -kæst/ (sportscasts ) N‑COUNT A sportscast is a radio or television broadcast of a sporting event. [mainly AM ]
sports|caster /spɔː r tskɑːstə r , -kæst-/ (sportscasters ) N‑COUNT A sportscaster is a radio or television broadcaster who describes or comments on sporting events. [mainly AM ]
spo rts day (sports days ) N‑VAR In British schools, sports day is a day or an afternoon when pupils compete in athletics contests such as races and the high jump. Parents are often invited to come and watch the events.
spo rts jack|et (sports jackets ) N‑COUNT A sports jacket is a man's jacket, usually made of a woollen material called tweed. It is worn on informal occasions with trousers of a different material.
sports|man /spɔː r tsmən/ (sportsmen ) N‑COUNT A sportsman is a man who takes part in sports.
sports|man|ship /spɔː r tsmənʃ I p/ N‑UNCOUNT Sportsmanship is behaviour and attitudes that show respect for the rules of a game and for the other players.
sports|wear /spɔː r tsweə r / N‑UNCOUNT Sportswear is the special clothing worn for playing sports or for informal leisure activities.
sports|woman /spɔː r tswʊmən/ (sportswomen ) N‑COUNT A sportswoman is a woman who takes part in sports.
spo rts writ|er (sports writers ) N‑COUNT A sports writer is a journalist who writes about sport.
spo rt uti l|ity ve |hi|cle (sport utility vehicles ) also sports utility vehicle N‑COUNT A sport utility vehicle is a powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive that can be driven over rough ground. The abbreviation SUV is often used.
sporty /spɔː r ti/ (sportier , sportiest )
1 ADJ You can describe a car as sporty when it performs like a racing car but can be driven on normal roads. □ The steering and braking are exactly what you want from a sporty car.
2 ADJ Someone who is sporty likes playing sports.
spot ◆◆◇ /spɒ t/ (spots , spotting , spotted )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Spots are small, round, coloured areas on a surface. □ The leaves have yellow areas on the top and underneath are powdery orange spots. □ The swimsuit comes in navy with white spots or blue with green spots.