sprig /spr I g/ (sprigs ) N‑COUNT A sprig is a small stem with leaves on it which has been picked from a bush or plant, especially so that it can be used in cooking or as a decoration.
sprigged /spr I gd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sprigged material or paper has a pattern of small leaves or flowers on it. □ …a sprigged cotton dress.
spright|ly /spra I tli/ (sprightlier , sprightliest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] A sprightly person, especially an old person, is lively and active. □ …the sprightly 85-year-old President.
spring ◆◆◇ /spr I ŋ/ (springs , springing , sprang , sprung )
1 N‑VAR Spring is the season between winter and summer when the weather becomes warmer and plants start to grow again. □ We planted bulbs to flower in spring. □ The Labor government of Western Australia has an election due next spring. □ We met again in the spring of 1977. □ The apricot plant provides delicate, white spring flowers.
2 N‑COUNT A spring is a spiral of wire which returns to its original shape after it is pressed or pulled. □ Both springs in the fuel pump were broken.
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A spring is a place where water comes up through the ground. It is also the water that comes from that place. □ To the north are the hot springs of Banyas de Sant Loan.
4 VERB When a person or animal springs , they jump upwards or forwards suddenly or quickly. □ [V prep] He sprang to his feet, grabbing his keys off the coffee table. □ [V prep] Throwing back the sheet, he sprang from the bed. □ [V ] The lion roared once and sprang.
5 VERB If something springs in a particular direction, it moves suddenly and quickly. □ [V adj] Sadly when the lid of the boot sprang open, it was empty.
6 VERB If one thing springs from another thing, it is the result of it. □ [V + from ] Ethiopia's art springs from her early Christian as well as her Muslim heritage.
7 VERB If a boat or container springs a leak , water or some other liquid starts coming in or out through a crack. □ [V n] The yacht has sprung a leak in the hull.
8 VERB If you spring some news or a surprise on someone, you tell them something that they did not expect to hear, without warning them. □ [V n + on ] Mclaren sprang a new idea on him.
9 to spring to mind → see mind ➊
▸ spring up PHRASAL VERB If something springs up , it suddenly appears or begins to exist. □ [V P ] New theatres and arts centres sprang up all over the country.
spring|board /spr I ŋbɔː r d/ (springboards )
1 N‑COUNT If something is a springboard for something else, it makes it possible for that thing to happen or start. □ [+ for/to ] The 1981 budget was the springboard for an economic miracle.
2 N‑COUNT A springboard is a flexible board from which you jump into a swimming pool or onto a piece of gymnastic equipment.
spri ng chi ck|en (spring chickens ) PHRASE If you say that someone is no spring chicken , you are saying that they are not young. [HUMOROUS ] □ At 85, he is no spring chicken, but Henry Cook is busier than ever.
spri ng-clea n (spring-cleans , spring-cleaning , spring-cleaned ) VERB When you spring-clean a house, you thoroughly clean everything in it. □ [V n] It's almost as easy to give your rooms a new coat of paint as to spring-clean them.
spri ng o n|ion (spring onions ) N‑VAR [usu pl] Spring onions are small onions with long green leaves. They are often eaten raw in salads. [BRIT ] in AM, use scallion
spri ng ro ll (spring rolls ) N‑COUNT A spring roll is a Chinese food consisting of a small roll of thin pastry filled with vegetables and sometimes meat, and then fried.
spri ng tide (spring tides ) N‑COUNT A spring tide is an unusually high tide that happens at the time of a new moon or a full moon.
spring|time /spr I ŋta I m/ N‑UNCOUNT Springtime is the period of time during which spring lasts.
springy /spr I ŋi/ ADJ If something is springy , it returns quickly to its original shape after you press it. □ Steam for about 12 mins until the cake is risen and springy to touch in the centre.
sprin|kle /spr I ŋk ə l/ (sprinkles , sprinkling , sprinkled )
1 VERB If you sprinkle a thing with something such as a liquid or powder, you scatter the liquid or powder over it. □ [V n + with ] Sprinkle the meat with salt and place in the pan. □ [be V -ed + on ] Cheese can be sprinkled on egg or vegetable dishes.
2 VERB If something is sprinkled with particular things, it has a few of them throughout it and they are far apart from each other. □ [be V -ed + with ] Unfortunately, the text is sprinkled with errors. □ [be V -ed prep] Men in green army uniforms are sprinkled throughout the huge auditorium.
3 VERB If it is sprinkling , it is raining very lightly. [AM ] in BRIT, use spit
sprin|kler /spr I ŋklə r / (sprinklers ) N‑COUNT A sprinkler is a device used to spray water. Sprinklers are used to water plants or grass, or to put out fires in buildings.
sprin|kling /spr I ŋkl I ŋ/ N‑SING A sprinkling of something is a small quantity or amount of it, especially if it is spread over a large area. □ [+ of ] …a light sprinkling of snow.