spring
spring — adjective
1. containing coiled metal springs inside, so that a piece of furniture feels soft
containing coiled metal springs inside, so that a piece of furniture feels soft and supportive instead of hard or flat
Adina bought a new spring mattress for her back pain.
spring + [mattress] typical collocation
The old spring sofa had lost its shape after twenty years of use.
spring + [sofa] typical collocation
A spring cushion makes a long car journey much more comfortable.
Hotels often advertise spring beds as a sign of quality.
- sprung
means the same but is less common; 'sprung mattress' is an alternative form
文法句型
spring + [furniture noun]
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun that names a piece of furniture or a part of it (mattress, sofa, bed, cushion).
常見錯誤
spring — noun
1. the season that comes after winter and before summer, when the weather gets warm
the season that comes after winter and before summer, when the weather gets warmer and new flowers and leaves begin to appear
Kofi and Linh plan to get married next spring.
in/next/last + spring (time reference)
Cherry trees in the park bloom every spring.
The garden looks beautiful in early spring when the tulips come out.
Spring is Sayaka's favourite season because she loves the mild weather.
Many animals give birth to their young in the spring.
- springtime
more poetic or literary; less common in everyday speech
文法句型
in (the) spring
spring + [noun]
用法筆記
Can be used with or without 'the': 'in spring' and 'in the spring' are both correct. Capitalised only when part of a proper noun (Spring Festival).
常見錯誤
2. a length of wire wound into a tight spiral or curve that bounces back to its ear
a length of wire wound into a tight spiral or curve that bounces back to its earlier shape after you squeeze or stretch it
Ezra replaced the broken spring inside the clock.
replace/fix/change + spring
The springs in an office chair allow you to lean back without falling.
A trampoline works because many strong springs pull the mat back up.
Walid wound the spring tightly and placed the toy car on the floor.
Valentina checked the car's suspension springs before the long road trip.
- coil
specifically a spring wound in a spiral shape
- elastic band
a rubber band, functionally similar but not made of metal
文法句型
spring + [verb]
[adjective] + spring
用法筆記
Often appears in compound nouns: 'coil spring', 'leaf spring', 'suspension spring'. The object is usually mechanical or part of a device.
3. a spot where underground water rises and reaches the surface on its own without
a spot where underground water rises and reaches the surface on its own without any pump or digging
The hikers stopped to drink from a cold mountain spring.
drink from + spring
This bottled water comes from a natural spring in the Alps.
natural spring (common collocation)
A hot spring in the valley attracts visitors all year round.
Linh discovered a small spring behind the old farmhouse.
The village gets its drinking supply from a nearby mineral spring.
文法句型
[adjective] + spring
spring of + [water/liquid]
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'well' — a well is dug or drilled by people, while a spring is a natural flow. 'Hot spring' is a common compound for geothermal springs.
4. the property of a substance that lets it go back to how it was before after bein
the property of a substance that lets it go back to how it was before after being stretched, bent, or squeezed
The spring of the yoga mat was gone after months of heavy use.
the spring of + [object]
Trampoline fabric loses its spring over time and needs replacing.
Christopher tested the spring of the diving board before jumping.
Good running shoes have enough spring to protect your knees.
- elasticity
more formal, commonly used in scientific contexts
- resilience
emphasises recovering from pressure rather than shape specifically
- stiffness
the opposite quality; lack of spring or give
文法句型
spring + of + [noun]
用法筆記
Uncountable — you cannot say 'a spring' when referring to elasticity. 'Elasticity' and 'resilience' are more formal synonyms.
常見錯誤
5. a cheerful, lively, and energetic quality in the way someone walks, moves, or be
a cheerful, lively, and energetic quality in the way someone walks, moves, or behaves
Tamás walked down the street with a spring in his step after the news.
spring in [possessive] step (idiomatic phrase)
The little girl had so much spring in her that she could not sit still.
Even at seventy, Grandma still has a spring in her walk that amazes everyone.
Hari's voice has a cheerful spring that makes people smile.
- lethargy
lack of energy; the opposite of having spring
- sluggishness
slow, heavy movement without bounce
文法句型
spring + in + possessive + [noun]
用法筆記
Most commonly found in the fixed phrase 'a spring in one's step', which means walking with energy and confidence. Outside this idiom, the sense is rare in everyday speech.
spring — verb
1. to push your body off the ground or off a surface using your legs, moving quickl
to push your body off the ground or off a surface using your legs, moving quickly and often suddenly in a particular direction
Ezra sprang out of bed when the alarm clock went off.
spring out/up/forward + [preposition]
The cat sprang from the sofa onto the window ledge.
Christopher sprang to his feet the moment his name was called.
Linh sprang forward to catch the vase before it hit the floor.
Walid sprang off the diving board and cut cleanly into the water.
文法句型
spring + [adverb/preposition]
spring + [direction]
用法筆記
The past tense is 'sprang' (common) or 'sprung' (North American, informal). The past participle is always 'sprung'. Often followed by a direction word or prepositional phrase — if the sentence ends at 'sprang', it sounds incomplete.
常見錯誤
2. to appear, arise, or come into existence quickly and unexpectedly
to appear, arise, or come into existence quickly and unexpectedly
A strong wind sprang up from nowhere and scattered the papers across the lawn.
spring up (phrasal: appear suddenly)
Tears sprang to Hari's eyes during the farewell speech.
The idea for the charity project sprang from a casual chat between two neighbours.
Doubts began to spring up in Tamás's mind about the plan.
A small cafe sprang into existence on the corner almost overnight.
- disappear
the opposite of appearing suddenly
文法句型
spring up
spring from + [source]
spring into + [existence]
用法筆記
Commonly used with 'up' ('spring up') or 'from' to indicate origin. The subject is often an abstract thing (feeling, idea, doubt) rather than a person deliberately doing something.
3. to do something, produce something, or make something happen in a sudden and une
to do something, produce something, or make something happen in a sudden and unexpected way, often giving someone a surprise
Sayaka sprang a birthday party on her roommate with the help of their friends.
spring + [something] + on + [someone] (pattern for surprises)
The reporter sprang a tough question on the mayor during the press conference.
Mark sprang the news that he was moving to London during dinner.
The old house sprang a terrible leak in the roof after the first big storm.
- spring on
the key phrasal verb pattern for this sense
- surprise with
more general, lacks the suddenness implied by 'spring'
- unleash
stronger, often negative connotation of releasing something powerful
文法句型
spring + [something] + on + [someone]
spring + [something]
用法筆記
Most common in the pattern 'spring something on someone' — the object is typically news, a question, a request, or a surprise. The past tense 'sprang' is standard; 'sprung' is sometimes used informally for both past tense and past participle in North America.