/spɜ:(r); spɝ/
n
1 either of a pair of sharp-toothed wheels or projecting points, worn on the heels of a rider's boots and used to make a horse go faster 马刺
*a pair of spurs 一副马刺.
2 (fig 比喻) ~ (to sth) thing that urges a person on to greater activity; incentive 激励因素; 刺激; 鞭策
*the spur of poverty 穷则思变
* a spur to greater efficiency 提高效率的刺激因素.
3 thing shaped like a spur, esp the sharp hard projection on the back of a cock's leg 马刺状物; （尤指）雄鸡腿上的距.
4 ridge extending from a mountain or hill 山嘴; 支脉; 横岭.
5 road or railway track that branches off the main road or line （公路或铁路的）支线
*[attrib 作定语] a `spur road 岔道儿.
6 (idm 习语) on the ,spur of the `moment on a sudden impulse, without previous planning 一时冲动之下（未经仔细考虑）
*She went to London on the spur of the moment. 她一时兴起就到伦敦去了.
* [attrib 作定语] a ,spur-of-the-moment i`dea 心血来潮的主意. win one's `spurs => win.

v (-rr-)
1 [Tn, Tn.pr, Tn.p, Tnt] ~ sb/sth (on to sth/on)
(a) make (one's horse) go faster by pricking it with spurs 以马刺策（马）前进.
(b) strongly encourage sb/sth to do better, achieve more, etc; incite or stimulate sb/sth 激励或刺激某人[某事物]
*The magnificent goal spurred the team on to victory. 他们那一球进得漂亮, 鼓舞了全队的士气夺取胜利.
* He was spurred on by ambition. 他胸怀大志.
2 [Ip] (arch 古) ride fast or hard 骑马疾驰; 驰驱
*The rider spurred on/forward to his destination. 骑者向目的地疾驰而去. spurred adj [usu pred 通常作表语] having spurs; fitted with spurs 有马刺; 装有马刺
*booted and spurred 穿着带马刺的靴子
* spurred boots 装有马刺的靴子.