n (1)马刺(U- shaped device with a projecting point or sharp-toothed wheel behind，that a rider wears on his heels and digs into the horse's sides to make it go faster)[C]：a pair of～s 一对马刺;urge a horse on with a whip or with～s 用鞭子或马刺策马;The cowboy dug his～into the horse. 那牛仔用马刺扎马肚子。

(2)刺激，鼓(激)励，鞭策，动力(sth that encourages or urges sb to do sth)[C][N (to)](fig)：Ambition was the～that made him work so hard. 抱负是他如此努力工作的动力。the～of poverty 贫穷的驱使;a～to greater efficiency/continued effort 使提高效率/再接再厉的鞭策;Fame was the～for his even greater achievements. 名望是他取得更大成就的动力。〖同〗stimulation，stimulant，encouragement;〖反〗discouragement;

(3)(鸡，鸟的)腿上的矩(claw like point at the back of a bird，esp a cock's leg)[C]：A cock has～s on his legs. 公鸡腿上有马刺状的矩。

(4)山的支脉(横岭)(small range of mountains running off from a large range)[C]：A～of rock stuck out from the mountain. 那山中突起一道石岭。

(5)支(岔)线(railway track or road that turns off the main line or road)[C]：This railroad～connects with the city. 这条铁路支线连接那座城市。a～road 岔路;〖同〗branch，arm，wing，leg，fork;

on the spur of the moment 一时冲动之下：We decided to go to Berlin on the～of the moment.我们一时兴起就决定去柏林。

vt (1)用马刺策马(prick a horse's side with spurs to make it go faster)[T+n，T+n+prep (to)，T+n+adv (on)，T+n+adv (on)+prep (to)，C+n+to-inf]：He～red his horse and it galloped away. 他用马刺策马，马疾驰而去。～a horse to a gallop 策马疾驰;The riders～red (on) their horses. 骑手们策马前行。

(2)刺激，鼓(激)励，鞭策，动力(encourage or urge sb/sth to work harder， perform better，etc)[T+n，T+n+prep (to)，T+n+adv (on)，T+n+adv (on)+prep (to)，C+n+to-inf]：His loving care～red her recovery. 他的爱促使她康复。The cheers～red the team to victory. 欢呼声激励全体队员去赢得胜利。The thought of the prize/fear of failure～red him on. 要得到奖励的想法/对失败的关心鞭策着他前进。be～red on by ambition/one's desire/the hope of freedom 被雄心/欲望/对自由的希望所激励;～one's team on to greater efforts 鼓励自己的球队尽更大的努力;Pride～red him to fight harder. 自尊心驱使他更加奋力战斗。The decision～red him to follow the same road. 那决定促使他坚持原来的道路。〖同〗stimulate，encourage，hasten;

→′spurred adj 装有马刺的