[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/spur/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / spur # spur noun (a spur, spurs); verb (spur, spurs, spurred, spurring) «spur» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A spur is a small metal spike or wheel on the back of a rider's boot, used to push a horse to go faster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#m1) 2. To spur someone on is to encourage them to try harder or go faster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#m2) 3. A spur is something that makes you act: «a spur to action». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#m3) 4. «On the spur of the moment» means suddenly, without planning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#m4) 5. In geography a spur is a ridge of high land that sticks out from a hill or mountain into a valley. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#m5) 6. A spur is a sharp point on the back of the leg of some birds, such as a rooster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#m6) 7. (a name) Spurs is the nickname of Tottenham Hotspur football club and San Antonio Spurs basketball team. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#m7) ### In the lessons In geography lessons on rivers you learn about «interlocking spurs», the ridges a young river winds around in a V-shaped valley. In cowboy stories and films riders have jingling spurs. In everyday life, cheering spurs on runners at sports day. Phrases: spur on, on the spur of the moment, spurred into action, interlocking spurs. ### Examples - The cowboy's spurs jingled as he walked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x1) - The crowd's cheers spurred her on to win the race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x2) - On the spur of the moment, we decided to go to the beach. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x3) - The river winds between interlocking spurs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x4) - The rooster had sharp spurs on its legs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x5) - The fire spurred the town to build a new fire station. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x6) - He supports Spurs, not Arsenal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x7) - Good marks spurred him to work even harder. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x8) - Hot with excitement, the Tsar spurred his horse on yet faster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/#x9) ### Note Verb forms: spur, spurs, spurred, spurring (double r before -ed and -ing). Countable noun: a spur, spurs. «On the spur of the moment» is an idiom: no planning. «Spur on» means encourage, often with «to»: «The coach spurred us on to score.» ## In Jewish tradition In the Sefer Yetzirah passage it is not a boot spike but one of several spellings editors suggested for a Hebrew word for "book" (sefer). In Isaiah it is a verb meaning to stir up or urge on, so that enemies are set against someone. **Interpretation.** The passage concerns a word in Sefer Yetzirah that is normally read as sefer, sippur and sapar, "book," "story" and "number." Scholars say these three give the idea that God made the world through writing, speech and counting. In Isaiah the tradition reads God as the one who moves nations and rivals to carry out His plans. ### Examples - Some late editors to cover the difficulty of this passage, have given SPR, SPUR, SIPR, pointing them to read Separ, Seepur, Saypar. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spur/#x1) - Therefore the LORD doth set upon high the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies; (Prophets ISA.9.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spur/#x2) - And I will spur Egypt against Egypt; and they shall fight every one against his brother, and everyone against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. (Prophets ISA.19.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spur/#x3) ### Note Verb forms: spur, spurs, spurred, spurring (double r before -ed and -ing). Countable noun: a spur, spurs. «On the spur of the moment» is an idiom: no planning. «Spur on» means encourage, often with «to»: «The coach spurred us on to score.» ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «spur» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/spur/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«spur» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spur.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «spur» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/spur/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«spur» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/spur.html) on Mova free.