[spəː], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward

- a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive
(e.g: wars act as a spur to practical invention)

- a projection from a mountain or mountain range
(e.g: it's an easy walk up the spur that leads to the summit)

- a small, single-pointed support for ceramic ware in a kiln


Phrases:
- on the spur of the moment
- put spurs to

Origin:
Old English spora, spura, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch spoor and German Sporn, also to spurn

[spəː], (Verb)

Definitions:
- urge (a horse) forward by digging one's spurs into its sides
(e.g: she spurred her horse towards the hedge)

- give an incentive or encouragement to (someone)
(e.g: her sons' passion for computer games spurred her on to set up a software business)

- prune in (a side shoot of a plant) so as to form a spur close to the stem
(e.g: spur back the lateral shoots)


Phrases:
- on the spur of the moment
- put spurs to

Origin:
Old English spora, spura, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch spoor and German Sporn, also to spurn