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Definition of spurt noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

spurt

noun
 
/spɜːt/
 
/spɜːrt/
Idioms
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  1. an amount of liquid or flames that comes out of somewhere with great force
    • a great spurt of blood
  2. a sudden increase in speed, effort, activity or emotion for a short period of time
    • You'd better put on a spurt (= hurry up) if you want to finish that work today.
    • Babies get very hungry during growth spurts.
    • a sudden spurt of anger
    Extra Examples
    • Boys experience a growth spurt during puberty.
    • He felt a spurt of resentment against his brother.
    • She put on a spurt to get to the station in time.
    • With one final spurt, he reached the top of the hill.
    • a spurt in capital spending
    • an initial spurt of energy
    • I felt a little spurt of pleasure at the prospect.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • sudden
    • brief
    • little
    verb + spurt
    • put on
    • feel
    preposition
    • with a spurt
    • spurt in
    • spurt of
    phrases
    • in short spurts
    See full entry
  3. Word Originmid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.
Idioms
in spurts
  1. in short periods of great activity, powerful movement, etc., rather than in a steady, continuous way
    • The water came out of the tap in spurts.
    • His breath came in short spurts.
See spurt in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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