springs

IPA/spɹˈɪŋz/
KK[sprˈɪŋz]IPA/sprˈɪŋz/

springs — noun

1. the time of year that follows winter and comes before summer, when the air becom

1.nounA1
Definition

the time of year that follows winter and comes before summer, when the air becomes warmer, trees grow new leaves, and many flowers start to bloom.

Example

After the snow melted, Mei-Lin looked forward to the warm days of spring.

collocation: days of spring

In spring, the cherry trees in the park near Javier's house burst into pink blossoms.

pattern: in spring (no article)

Synonyms
  • springtime

    poetic or slightly old-fashioned; emphasises the atmosphere of the season

  • spring season

    more formal; used in scheduling and business contexts

Antonyms
  • autumn

    the season opposite to spring in temperate regions

  • fall

    American English equivalent of autumn

Grammar Patterns

in (the) spring

spring + noun (spring flowers, spring rain)

Usage Note

Unlike other season names, 'spring' is often used without the definite article: 'in spring' (not 'in the spring'), though 'the spring of [year]' is the normal pattern when specifying a particular year. Frequently modifies other nouns: spring flowers, spring rain, spring break.

Common Mistakes

I love spring season.
I love spring.
'Spring' alone already means the season; adding 'season' is redundant.
We met in spring of 2023.
We met in the spring of 2023.
Use 'the' when referring to a specific year.

2. a length of wire shaped into tight circles that can be pushed into a smaller spa

2.nounB1
Definition

a length of wire shaped into tight circles that can be pushed into a smaller space and then returns to its original shape, used to absorb shock, support weight, or store mechanical energy.

Example

The old mattress had broken springs that poked through the fabric and scratched Dmitri's leg.

plural usage: springs in furniture

A car suspension system contains thick metal springs that smooth out bumps on the road.

collocation: metal springs

Synonyms
  • coil

    focuses on the spiral shape; used in engineering contexts

  • coil spring

    more specific; distinguishes from leaf springs or torsion bars

Grammar Patterns

spring(s) + verb (springs push, springs support)

Usage Note

The plural 'springs' is very common when referring to the set of coils inside a mattress, sofa, or vehicle. A single spring is a single coil; but furniture is usually described as having 'springs' (multiple).

Common Mistakes

The bed spring is broken.' (when the whole mattress has a problem)
The bed springs are broken.
A mattress contains many springs, so use the plural.
I need to buy a spring for my car.
I need to buy springs for my car.
Car suspension systems use multiple springs.

3. the quality of a material that makes it return to its original shape after being

3.nounB2
Definition

the quality of a material that makes it return to its original shape after being pressed, stretched, or bent — for example, the way a rubber band snaps back after you pull it, or how a diving board bounces back up.

Example

The spring of the diving board helped Wei leap higher into the air before entering the pool.

collocation: the spring of + noun

Aisha could feel the loss of spring in the old tennis racket she had used for years.

collocation: loss of spring

Synonyms
  • elasticity

    more scientific or technical; preferred in physics and engineering

  • bounce

    more informal; used for balls, hair, and floors

  • resilience

    broader term covering both physical and emotional recovery

Antonyms
  • stiffness

    lack of flexibility; a material that resists bending or compression

Grammar Patterns

the spring of + noun

lose (its/your) spring

Usage Note

Uncountable — cannot be used in plural form. This sense focuses on the abstract property of elasticity rather than a physical object. Describes the quality of materials like rubber, metal, hair, and wood when they return to shape after deformation.

Common Mistakes

This rubber band has lost its springs.
This rubber band has lost its spring.
The uncountable elasticity sense is always singular.

4. a place where water flows naturally out of the ground, often forming the beginni

4.nounB1
Definition

a place where water flows naturally out of the ground, often forming the beginning of a small stream or filling a pool, and sometimes containing minerals or warm temperatures.

Example

The hikers stopped to drink the cool, clear water from a mountain spring.

collocation: mountain spring

Hot springs are popular among visitors who want to relax in warm mineral-rich water.

collocation: hot springs

Synonyms
  • well

    usually man-made; water is drawn up rather than flowing out naturally

  • fountain

    often artificially constructed; water may be pumped rather than flowing naturally

  • source

    broader; the origin of a river or stream, not necessarily a visible outflow

Grammar Patterns

hot spring(s)

natural spring(s)

spring water

Usage Note

Even a single geothermal bathing location is usually called 'hot springs' in plural form. 'Spring' as a water source is countable, and the plural 'springs' can refer to multiple water outlets in one area.

Common Mistakes

Let us visit the hot spring.' (for a spa location)
Let us visit the hot springs.
A single bathing facility is usually referred to in the plural 'hot springs'.
The spring's water is clean.
The spring water is clean.
The uncountable compound 'spring water' is the normal form.

springs — verb

springs — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Spring, leap, jump, dart, and lunge all describe moving through the air from the ground, but they differ in speed, direction, and feel. Spring emphasises a sudden, elastic motion, as if powered by a coiled release — 'the cat sprang from the chair the moment the mouse appeared.' Leap suggests covering a distance or height with a single powerful motion: 'the dancer leaped across the entire stage.' Jump is the most everyday word and works for almost any situation, from small hops off a step to high athletic jumps. Dart implies a very fast, straight movement along a line: 'the fish darted away under the rock.' Lunge focuses on a sudden forward thrust of the body, usually with an extended arm or weapon: 'he lunged for the ball just before it crossed the line.' For describing a single, swift, elastic burst of movement triggered by a sudden stimulus, spring is the most precise choice.

spring ↗leap ↗jump ↗dart ↗lunge ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'spring' comes from Old English 'springan', meaning 'to leap, burst forth, or fly up', which traces back to the Proto-Germanic root *springaną ('to burst forth, jump'). The noun senses developed from different aspects of this core idea: the season sense emerged from the image of plants 'springing forth' from the ground; the water source sense came from water 'springing' out of the earth; and the later metal coil sense (1600s) was named for the elastic action of something 'springing back' to its original position.