spur

noun

1. 马刺；靴刺
   a sharp pointed object that riders sometimes wear on the heels of their boots and use to encourage their horse to go faster
2. 鞭策；激励；刺激；鼓舞
   a fact or an event that makes you want to do sth better or more quickly
   1. His speech was a powerful spur to action.
      他的讲话很有鼓动力。
3. 山嘴；尖坡；支脉
   an area of high ground that sticks out from a mountain or hill
4. （公路或铁路的）支线，岔线
   a road or a railway/railroad track that leads from the main road or line

verb

1. 鞭策；激励；刺激；鼓舞
   to encourage sb to do sth or to encourage them to try harder to achieve sth
   1. Her difficult childhood spurred her on to succeed.
      她艰辛的童年激励她取得成功。
   2. I was spurred into action by the letter.
      那封信激励我行动起来。
   3. The band has been spurred on by the success of their last single.
      最近一张单曲唱片的成功使乐队受到鼓舞。
2. 促进，加速，刺激（某事发生）
   to make sth happen faster or sooner
   1. The agreement is essential to spurring economic growth around the world.
      这项协议对于促进世界经济的增长是至关重要的。
3. 策（马）前进；（尤指用马刺）策（马）加速
   to encourage a horse to go faster, especially by pushing the spurs on your boots into its side

1. VERB 鼓励;激励
   If one thing spurs you to do another, it encourages you to do it.
   1. It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsy boats...
      是金钱驱使这些渔民驾着破旧小船冒险出海远航。
   2. His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
      朋友的困境促使他投身参与。
   3. Spur on means the same as spur .
      spur on 同 spur
   4. Their attitude, rather than reining him back, only seemed to spur Philip on...
      他们的态度非但没有令菲利普回头，反倒促使他继续向前。
   5. Criticism can be of great use; we may not like it at the time, but it can spur us on to greater things.
      批评可能会很有用;我们当时可能不喜欢它，但它能激励我们获取更大成功。
2. VERB 促进;加速;推动
   If something spurs a change or event, it makes it happen faster or sooner.
   1. The administration may put more emphasis on spurring economic growth...
      政府可能会更加重视推动经济增长。
   2. The trade pacts will spur an exodus of US businesses to Mexico.
      这些贸易协定将会促使大批美国企业涌向墨西哥。
3. N-COUNT 刺激;激励;推动力
   Something that acts as a spur to something else encourages a person or organization to do that thing or makes it happen more quickly.
   1. ...a belief in competition as a spur to efficiency...
      认为竞争会促进效率的信念
   2. Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.
      裁员促使很多人开始从事新事业。
4. 马刺;靴刺
   Spurs are small metal wheels with sharp points that are attached to the heels of a rider's boots. The rider uses them to make their horse go faster.
5. 山嘴;尖坡
   The spur of a hill or mountain is a piece of ground which sticks out from its side.
6. PHRASE 一时冲动;心血来潮
   If you do something on the spur of the moment, you do it suddenly, without planning it beforehand.
   1. They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment...
      他们承认是一时冲动偷走了一辆车。
   2. It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. We discussed it in detail beforehand.
      这可不是头脑一热作出的决定。我们事先仔细地讨论过。
7. PHRASE 获得地位;赢得名望
   If you win your spurs or earn your spurs, you achieve a particular status by proving that you can do something skilfully.
   1. Young conductors earn their spurs in a small orchestra or opera house.
      年轻的指挥家们在小乐队或小歌剧院里崭露头角。

1. He must have cooked up his scheme on the spur of the moment.
   他肯定是一时冲动策划了这个阴谋。
2. This has forced airlines to discount fares heavily in order to spur demand
   这迫使航空公司对机票大幅打折来刺激需求。
3. This report could spur some buying in corn futures when the market opens today
   这一报告可能会在今天开市后刺激一些人买进玉米期货。
4. It's the money that spurs these fishermen to risk a long ocean journey in their flimsy boats
   是金钱驱使这些渔民驾着破旧小船冒险出海远航。
5. His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
   朋友的困境促使他投身参与。
6. The administration may put more emphasis on spurring economic growth
   政府可能会更加重视推动经济增长。
7. The trade pacts will spur an exodus of US businesses to Mexico.
   这些贸易协定将会促使大批美国企业涌向墨西哥。
8. Redundancy is the spur for many to embark on new careers.
   裁员促使很多人开始从事新事业。
9. They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment
   他们承认是一时冲动偷走了一辆车。
10. Young conductors earn their spurs in a small orchestra or opera house.
    年轻的指挥家们在小乐队或小歌剧院里崭露头角。
11. The spur of ambition was blunted; he had no vitality with which to feel the prod of it.
    豪情壮志没有了，活力没有了，澎湃的热情感觉不到了。
12. We can develop policies and incentives to spur entrepreneurship.
    我们可以拟定政策和计划，激发创业精神。
13. Three itself is a good example of how competition can both spur and reward fresh thinking.
    Three本身就是个很好的例子，证明竞争可以激励和奖励新想法。
14. Recovery hopes helped spur buying of shipping and commodity stocks.
    经济复苏的希望，刺激了对航运和大宗商品类股票的购买行为。
15. Low taxes and good infrastructure spur a nation's growth.
    低税率和完善的基础设施能激励国家的成长。
16. High levels of bank lending are also believed to have helped spur demand.
    据信，较高的银行贷款水平也起到了刺激市场需求的作用。
17. Suddenly, I understood that having obligations can act as a spur and a discipline.
    我突然懂得了，责任可以成为一种鞭策和纪律。
18. Lowering barriers will spur global growth, which benefits all.
    降低壁垒将刺激全球经济增长，这会令所有各方受益。
19. Several strong targets have been set to spur action and guide the way forward.
    已经制订了若干强大的目标来促进行动和指导我们前进的道路。
20. This exchange might then spur on agricultural production.
    有了交换，就可以刺激农业生产的发展。
21. Some inequality is good: it is a spur to enterprise and effort.
    一定程度的不公是有好处的：它对冒险和努力进取构成了激励。
22. On the spur of the moment, he broke up with his girlfriend.
    一时冲动，他和女朋友分手了。
23. This is going to spur new products and technologies.
    这也将激励新产品和技术的诞生。
24. Her coach's encouragement helped spur Heather to run faster and win the race.
    教练的鼓励刺激了希瑟，使她跑得更快并赢得了比赛。
25. Anna's challenge was a great spur to me.
    安娜的挑战对我来说是一个很大的激励。
26. You spur each other to explore, take risks, and develop new creative outlets.
    你们鞭策彼此去探索、冒险和发展新的创造性的途径。
27. Does liberating women promote economic growth or does economic growth spur women's liberation?
    到底是解放女性权利促进了经济发展还是经济发展促进了女性的解放？
28. I phoned him up on the spur of the moment.
    我一时心动，给他打了电话。
29. Central and local governments have offered many preferential policies to spur investment under the Go West strategy.
    按照西部大开发战略，中央和地方政府已推出了许多刺激投资的优惠政策。
30. Spur gears and helical gears.
    直齿轮和螺旋齿轮。

n.

on the spur of the moment

• 一时冲动之下；心血来潮
  suddenly, without planning in advance
  1. I phoned him up on the spur of the moment.
     我一时心动，给他打了电话。
  2. a spur-of-the-moment decision
     心血来潮的决定

win/earn your spurs

• 获得名望；取得成功
  to achieve fame or success

noun

1. a railway line connected to a trunk line

   Synonym:    branch linespur track

2. a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward
   1. cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on

   Synonym:    gad

3. a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
   1. the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves

   Synonym:    goadgoadingprodproddingurgingspurring

4. tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers

5. any sharply pointed projection

   Synonym:    spineacantha

verb

1. goad with spurs
   1. the rider spurred his horse

2. equip with spurs
   1. spur horses

3. strike with a spur

4. give heart or courage to

   Synonym:    goad

5. incite or stimulate
   1. The Academy was formed to spur research