car n. Low-built fast car.

- coat n. (also sports jacket) man's informal jacket.

- ground n. Piece of land used for sports.

adj. (-ier, -iest) colloq. - fond of sport.

- rakish, showy. sportily adv. Sportiness n.

adj. (-ier, -iest) 1 marked with spots.

- patchy, irregular. spottiness n.

n. Husband or wife. [latin sponsus sponsa betrothed]

—v. Wrench (an ankle, wrist, etc.), causing pain or swelling. —n. Such a wrench. [origin unknown]

past of *spring.

—v. - a sit, lie, or fall with limbs flung out untidily. B spread (one's limbs) thus.

- (of writing, a plant, a town, etc.) Be irregular or straggling. —n. - sprawling movement, position, or mass.

- straggling urban expansion. [old english]

eagle —n. Figure of an eagle with legs and wings extended as an emblem. —v. (spread-eagle) 1 (usu. As spread-eagled adj.) Place (a person) with arms and legs spread out.

- defeat utterly.

- —v. (past and past part. Spread) 1 (often foll. By out) a open, extend, or unfold. B cause to cover a surface or larger area. C display thus.

- (often foll. By out) have a wide, specified, or increasing extent.

- become or make widely known, felt, etc. (rumours are spreading).

- a cover (spread the wall with paint). B lay (a table). —n. - act of spreading.

- capability or extent of spreading (has a large spread).

- diffusion (spread of learning).

- breadth.

- increased girth (middle-aged spread).

- difference between two rates, prices, etc.

- colloq. Elaborate meal.

- paste for spreading on bread etc.

- bedspread. 10 printed matter spread across more than one column. spread oneself be lavish or discursive. Spread one's wings develop one's powers fully. [old english]

balance n. Balance that measures weight by the tension of a spring.

- chicken n. - young fowl for eating.

- youthful person.

- equinox n. (also vernal equinox) equinox about 20 march.

- fever n. Restlessness or lethargy associated with spring.

- greens n.pl. Young cabbage leaves.

- onion n. Young onion eaten raw.

- roll n. Chinese fried pancake filled with vegetables.

- tide n. Tide just after the new and the full moon when there is the greatest difference between high and low water.

- —v. (past sprang; past part. Sprung) 1 rise rapidly or suddenly, leap, jump.

- move rapidly by or as by the action of a spring.

- (usu. Foll. By from) originate (from ancestors, a source, etc.).

- act or appear suddenly or unexpectedly (a breeze sprang up; spring to mind; spring to life).

- (often foll. By on) present (a thing or circumstance etc.) Suddenly or unexpectedly (sprang it on me).

- slang contrive the escape of (a person from prison etc.).

- rouse (game) from a covert etc.

- (usu. As sprung adj.) Provide (a mattress etc.) With springs. —n. - jump, leap.

- recoil.

- elasticity.

- elastic device, usu. Of coiled metal, used esp. To drive clockwork or for cushioning in furniture or vehicles.

- a (often attrib.) The first season of the year, in which new vegetation begins to appear. B (often foll. By of) early stage of life etc.

- place where water, oil, etc., wells up from the earth; basin or flow so formed.

- motive for or origin of an action, custom, etc. spring a leak develop a leak. Spring up come into being, appear. springlike adj. [old english]

—v. - run a short distance at full speed.

- run (a specified distance) thus. —n. - such a run.

- short burst in cycling, swimming, etc. sprinter n. [old norse]