spur

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a sharp pointed object that riders sometimes wear on the heels of their boots and use to encourage their horse to go faster: He dug his spurs into the horse's sides. 2 [usuallysing.] ~ (to sth) a fact or an event that makes you want to do sth better or more quickly: His speech was a powerful spur to action. * A few encouraging words might provide just the spur she needs. 3 an area of high ground that sticks out from a mountain or hill 4 a road or a railway/railroad track that leads from the main road or line IDIOMS on the spur of the moment suddenly, without planning in advance: I phoned him up on the spur of the moment. * a spur-of-the-moment decision win / earn your spurs (formal) to achieve fame or success verb (-rr-) [VN] 1 ~ sb/sth (on) (to sth / to do sth) to encourage sb to do sth or to encourage them to try harder to achieve sth: Her difficult childhood spurred her on to succeed. * I was spurred into action by the letter. * The band has been spurred on by the success of their last single. * My trainer spurred me to keep up a pace of four miles an hour. 2 to make sth happen faster or sooner: The agreement is essential to spurring economic growth around the world. * The fire, spurred by high temperatures and strong winds, had burnt more than 140 acres. 3 to encourage a horse to go faster, especially by pushing the spurs on your boots into its side: As he shouted his order he spurred the horse forward suddenly.