SPURT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spurt mean? 

• SPURT (noun)
  The noun SPURT has 1 sense:

1. the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid)

  Familiarity information: SPURT used as a noun is very rare.

• SPURT (verb)
  The verb SPURT has 2 senses:

1. gush forth in a sudden stream or jet

2. move or act with a sudden increase in speed or energy

  Familiarity information: SPURT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPURT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

jet; spirt; spurt; squirt

Hypernyms ("spurt" is a kind of...):

discharge; outpouring; run (the pouring forth of a fluid)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spurt"):

spray (a jet of vapor)

spritz (a quick squirt of some liquid (usually carbonated water))

Derivation:

spurt (gush forth in a sudden stream or jet)

• SPURT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they spurt    ... he / she / it spurts   
Past simple: spurted   
Past participle: spurted   
-ing form: spurting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Gush forth in a sudden stream or jet

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

gush; spirt; spout; spurt

Context example:

water gushed forth

Hypernyms (to "spurt" is one way to...):

pour (flow in a spurt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spurt"):

pump (flow intermittently)

blow (spout moist air from the blowhole)

whoosh (gush or squirt out)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

spurt (the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move or act with a sudden increase in speed or energy

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

forge; spirt; spurt

Hypernyms (to "spurt" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

Simple Alleyne opened his eyes at this little spurt of feminine bitterness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I took off the kettle and blew out the lamp, for the water was spurting over the floor.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The presence of warm dust implies that it formed very recently, perhaps in spurts, as chemically enriched material from the two stellar winds collides at different points, mixes, flows away, and cools.

(Hubble Observes One-of-a-Kind Star Nicknamed 'Nasty', NASA)

Then the procession started on, little spurts of strength coming into White Fang's muscles as he used them and the blood began to surge through them.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

You’re too late. She’s my wife. No, she’s your widow. His revolver cracked, and I saw the blood spurt from the front of Woodley’s waistcoat.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“If he doesn’t brake, why should I? Now, my darlings, one good spurt, and we’ll show them the colour of our tailboard.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

While study authors have a good idea why Tabby's Star dims on a long-term basis, they did not address the shorter-term dimming events that happened in three-day spurts in 2017.

(Mysterious Dimming of Tabby's Star May Be Caused by Dust, NASA)

Growth spurts of this large seaweed are fueled by a diet of dissolved nitrogen.

(Giant kelp switches diet when key nutrient becomes scarce, National Science Foundation)

He looked like a figure of Thor as his untrembling arm rose and fell, driving deeper and deeper the mercy-bearing stake, whilst the blood from the pierced heart welled and spurted up around it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Unless the powder from a badly fitting cartridge happens to spurt backward, one may fire many shots without leaving a sign.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)