• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

— spumy adjective

Synonyms

foam, froth, head, lather—more at FOAM

spu·mo·ni also spu·mo·ne noun [ORIGIN: It spumone, fr. spuma foam]

: ice cream in layers of different colors, flavors, and textures often with candied fruits and nuts

spun past and past participle of SPIN

spun glass noun : FIBERGLASS

spunk noun [ORIGIN: fr. spunk tinder, fr. ScGael spong sponge, tinder, fr. Middle Irish spongc, fr. L spongia sponge]

: vigor and strength of spirit or temperament : PLUCK

Synonyms

backbone, fiber, fortitude, grit, guts, pluck—more at FORTITUDE

spunky adjective : full of spunk

Synonyms

fiery, high-spirited, mettlesome, peppery, spirited—more at SPIRITED

1spur noun 1 : a pointed device fastened to a rider's boot and used to urge on a horse

2 : something that urges to action

3 : a stiff sharp spine (as on the leg of a cock); also : a hollow projecting appendage of a flower (as a columbine)

4 : a ridge extending sideways from a mountain

5 : a branch of railroad track extending from the main line

— spurred adjective

— on the spur of the moment

: on hasty impulse

Synonyms

boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, stimulus, yeast—more at IMPULSE

2spur verb spurred; spur·ring 1 : to urge a horse on with spurs

2 : INCITE

spurge noun : any of a family of herbs and woody plants with a bitter milky juice

spu·ri·ous adjective [ORIGIN: LL spurius false, fr. L, spurius, n., son of an unknown father]

: not genuine : FALSE

Synonyms

affected, artificial, assumed, bogus, contrived, factitious, fake, false, feigned, mechanical, mock, phony, put-on, sham, unnatural—more at ARTIFICIAL

spurn verb 1 : to kick away or trample on

2 : to reject with disdain

Synonyms

decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, refuse, reject, repudiate, turn down—more at DECLINE

1spurt verb : to gush out : SPOUT

Synonyms

gush, jet, pour, rush, spew, spout, squirt—more at GUSH

2spurt noun : a sudden gushing or spouting

3spurt noun 1 : a sudden brief burst of effort, speed, or development

2 : a sharp increase of activity <~ in sales>

Synonyms

burst, flare, flare-up, flash, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst—more at OUTBREAK

4spurt verb : to make a spurt

sput·ter verb 1 : to spit small scattered particles : SPLUTTER

2 : to utter words hastily or explosively in excitement or confusion

3 : to make small popping sounds

— sputter noun

Synonyms

babble, chatter, drivel, gabble, gibber, jabber, prattle—more at BABBLE

spu·tum noun, plural spu·ta [ORIGIN: L]

: material (as phlegm) that is spit out or coughed up esp. during illness

1spy verb spied; spy·ing 1 : to watch or search for information secretly : act as a spy

2 : to get a momentary or quick glimpse of : SEE

Synonyms

behold, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look, note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, see, sight, view, witness—more at SEE

2spy noun, plural spies 1 : one who secretly watches others

2 : a secret agent who tries to get information for one country in the territory of an enemy

spy·glass noun : a small telescope

sq abbreviation 1 squadron

2 square

squab noun, plural squabs or squab : a young bird and esp. a pigeon

1squabble noun : a noisy altercation : WRANGLE

Synonyms

altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, disagreement, dispute, fight, hassle, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, scrap, spat, wrangle—more at ARGUMENT

2squabble verb : to quarrel noisily and usu. over petty matters

Synonyms

argue, bicker, brawl, dispute, fall out, fight, hassle, quarrel, row, scrap, spat, wrangle—more at ARGUE

squad noun 1 : a small organized group of military personnel

2 : a small group engaged in a common effort

Synonyms

band, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, team—more at GANG

squad car noun : a police car connected by two-way radio with headquarters

squad·ron noun : any of several units of military organization

squal