Spurt
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ÉœË(r)t
Origin
Earlier spirt or sprit, "sprout", from Middle English sprutten, from Old English spryttan, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)per- ("to strew, sow, sprinkle").
Full definition of spurt
Verb
- (transitive) To cause to gush out suddenly or violently in a stream or jet.
- (intransitive) To rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet.
- Alexander PopeThus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock,
Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. - 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula Chapter 21With that he pulled open his shirt, and with his long sharp nails opened a vein in his breast. When the blood began to spurt out, he took my hands in one of his, holding them tight, and with the other seized my neck and pressed my mouth to the wound, so that I must either suffocate or swallow some to the . . . Oh, my God! My God! What have I done?
- (intransitive) To make a strong effort for a short period of time.''The bullion market spurted on Thursday.''The runners spurted to the last lap as if they had extracted new energy from the applauds of the audience.
Noun
spurt
(plural spurts)- A brief gush, as of liquid spurting from an orifice or a cut/wound.a spurt of water; a spurt of blood
- A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space.The boss's visit prompted a brief spurt of activity.
- T. HughesThe long, steady sweep of the so-called "paddle" tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt.
- (slang) Ejaculation of semen.
- (obsolete) A shoot; a bud.