Online OXFORD Collocation Dictionary

spring noun

¹ season

ADJ. last, next, this (coming) | early, late, mid- | wet

SPRING + NOUN weather | sun, sunlight, sunshine | frost/frosts, rain/rains, wind | tide The highest spring tides of the the year occur after the equinoxes in March and September. | equinox | term The students spend the whole spring term on teaching practice. | flower | lamb, greens a delicious recipe for spring lamb | clean, cleaning They decided to give the attic a spring clean. | collection, exhibition > Note at SEASON(for more collocates)

² coiled metal or wire

VERB + SPRING break The children broke some springs jumping on the bed.

SPRING + VERB break, go Most of the springs have gone in the old sofa.

³ where water comes up

ADJ. hot, thermal | bubbling | mineral, mountain

SPRING + VERB bubble A thermal spring bubbled up out of the rocks.

SPRING + NOUN water

spring verb

ADV. suddenly | apart, back, down, forward, out, up He sprang back in alarm.

VERB + SPRING be ready to, be waiting to The lion crouched, ready to spring.

PREP. at Therese sprang at him and kissed him on both cheeks. | into, out of He sprang out of the car.

PHRASES spring open He worked a knife blade into the drawer and it sprang open. | spring to attention The sentry sprang to attention. | spring to your feet She sprang to her feet and ran to answer the doorbell.