spurt Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid)
    squirt; spirt; jet.
  2. verb gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
    spout; spirt; gush.
    • water gushed forth
  3. verb move or act with a sudden increase in speed or energy
    forge; spirt.

WordNet

Spurt intransitive verb
Etymology
Written also spirt, and originally the same word as sprit; OE. sprutten to sprout, AS. spryttan. See Sprit, v. i., Sprout, v. i.
Definitions
  1. To gush or issue suddenly or violently out in a stream, as liquor from a cask; to rush from a confined place in a small stream or jet; to spirt.
    Thus the small jet, which hasty hands unlock, Spurts in the gardener's eyes who turns the cock. Pope.
Spurt transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To throw out, as a liquid, in a stream or jet; to drive or force out with violence, as a liquid from a pipe or small orifice; as, to spurt water from the mouth.
Spurt noun
Etymology
Cf. Icel. sprette a spurt, spring, run, spretta to sprit, spring.
Definitions
  1. A sudden and energetic effort, as in an emergency; an increased exertion for a brief space.
    The long, steady sweep of the so-called "paddle" tried him almost as much as the breathless strain of the spurt. T. Hughes.
Spurt intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Spurted; present participle & verbal noun Spurting
Definitions
  1. To make a sudden and violent exertion, as in an emergency.

Webster 1913