spu|ri|ous /spjʊə riəs/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is spurious seems to be genuine, but is false. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was arrested in 1979 on spurious corruption charges.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A spurious argument or way of reasoning is incorrect, and so the conclusion is probably incorrect. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a spurious framework for analysis.
spurn /spɜː r n/ (spurns , spurning , spurned ) VERB If you spurn someone or something, you reject them. □ [V n] He spurned the advice of management consultants. □ [V -ed] …a spurned lover.
spu r-of-the-mo ment → see spur
spurt /spɜː r t/ (spurts , spurting , spurted )
1 VERB When liquid or fire spurts from somewhere, or when something spurts liquid or fire, it comes out quickly in a thin, powerful stream. □ [V n] They spurted blood all over me. I nearly passed out. □ [V n] …a fountain that spurts water nine stories high. □ [V prep] I saw flames spurt from the roof. [Also V ] ● PHRASAL VERB Spurt out means the same as spurt . □ [V P n] When the washing machine spurts out water at least we can mop it up. □ [V P ] Wear eye protection when opening the container, since it's so easy for contents to spurt out.
2 N‑COUNT A spurt of liquid is a stream of it which comes out of something very forcefully. □ [+ of ] A spurt of diesel came from one valve and none from the other.
3 N‑COUNT A spurt of activity, effort, or emotion is a sudden, brief period of intense activity, effort, or emotion. □ At adolescence, muscles go through a growth spurt.
4 VERB If someone or something spurts somewhere, they suddenly increase their speed for a short while in order to get there. □ [V prep/adv] The back wheels spun and the van spurted up the last few feet.
5 PHRASE If something happens in spurts , there are periods of activity followed by periods in which it does not happen. □ The deals came in spurts: three in 1977, none in 1978, three more in 1979.
sput|ter /spʌ tə r / (sputters , sputtering , sputtered ) VERB If something such as an engine or a flame sputters , it works or burns in an uneven way and makes a series of soft popping sounds. □ [V ] The truck sputtered and stopped. □ [V prep/adv] The flame sputters out.
spu|tum /spjuː təm/ N‑UNCOUNT Sputum is the wet substance which is coughed up from someone's lungs. [MEDICAL ]
spy /spa I / (spies , spying , spied )
1 N‑COUNT A spy is a person whose job is to find out secret information about another country or organization. □ He was jailed for five years as an alleged British spy.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A spy satellite or spy plane obtains secret information about another country by taking photographs from the sky.
3 VERB Someone who spies for a country or organization tries to find out secret information about another country or organization. □ [V + for ] The agent spied for the government for more than twenty years. □ [V + on ] East and West are still spying on one another. □ [V + against ] I never agreed to spy against the United States. ● spy|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …a ten-year sentence for spying.
4 VERB If you spy on someone, you watch them secretly. □ [V + on n] That day he spied on her while pretending to work on the shrubs.
5 VERB If you spy someone or something, you notice them. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] He was walking down the street when he spied an old friend.
spy|master /spa I mɑːstə r , -mæs-/ (spymasters ) N‑COUNT A spymaster is a spy who is in charge of a group of spies.
spy|ware /spa I weə r / N‑UNCOUNT Spyware is computer software that secretly records information about which websites you visit. [COMPUTING ] □ The publishers promise not to use spyware to grab your personal information.
sq also sq. sq is used as a written abbreviation for square when you are giving the measurement of an area. □ The building provides about 25,500 sq ft of air-conditioned offices.
squab|ble /skwɒ b ə l/ (squabbles , squabbling , squabbled ) VERB When people squabble , they quarrel about something that is not really important. □ [V ] They are devoted to each other although they squabble all the time. □ [V + with ] My four-year-old squabbles with his friends. ● squab|bling N‑UNCOUNT □ In recent months its government has been paralysed by political squabbling.
squad ◆◇◇ /skwɒ d/ (squads )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A squad is a section of a police force that is responsible for dealing with a particular type of crime. □ The building was evacuated and the bomb squad called. □ The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
2 N‑COUNT A squad is a group of players from which a sports team will be chosen. □ She has been named in the England squad for the tour.
3 N‑COUNT A squad of soldiers is a small group of them. □ [+ of ] …a squad of commandos.
4 → see also death squad , firing squad , Flying Squad , vice squad
squa d car (squad cars ) N‑COUNT A squad car is a car used by the police. [AM ] in BRIT, usually use patrol car , police car
squad|die /skwɒ di/ (squaddies ) N‑COUNT A squaddie is a soldier of the lowest rank in the army. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]