for advertising: The opera house could not survive without commercial sponsors. 3 a person who agrees to pay someone money, usually for CHARITY, if they complete (part of) an activity
sponsor² v [T] to act as a sponsor for: The baseball match is being sponsored by a cigarette company. | a government-sponsored research programme
sponsored 'walk n a walk done to collect money for CHARITY in which people offer money for each mile that the walkers walk
'sponsorship /'sponsesipli'sponser-/ n [U] ↑ an act of supporting and paying for (part of) an activity: The expedition is seeking sponsorship from one of the major banks. | government sponsorship 2 money obtained from SPONSORS: They've had to raise large amounts of sponsorship.
spon·ta·ne·i·ty /,spontə'ni:ʒti, -'nerʒtiil,spa:n-/ also spon·tane·ous·ness /spon'teiniasn's|spa:n-/ n [U] fml the quality of being spontaneous: His enthusiasm was somewhat lacking in spontaneity, I thought.
spontaneous /spɒnˈteɪniəs/ spaːn-/ adj happening as a result of natural feelings or causes, without outside force or influence, or without being planned: Her successful jump brought a spontaneous cheer from the crowd. | His offer of help was quite spontaneous; he hadn't been told to make it. | They think it caught fire because a chemical reaction caused spontaneous combustion. —ly adv: These medical conditions can often cure themselves spontaneously, without medical intervention.
spoof /spuːf/ n [(of, on)] infml a funny untrue copy or description; PARODY: The show is a spoof of/on university life.—spoof v [T] AmE infml He spoofed the President's habit of falling down.
spook¹ /spuːk/ n infmi for GHOST
spook² v infml, especially AmE [T] to cause to be suddenly afraid: Something spooked the horses and they ran away.
spook·y /'spuːki/ adj infml causing fear in a strange way; EERIE: a spooky old house
spool /spuːl/ n 1 a wheel-like object for winding a length of electric wire, recording TAPE camera film etc, round 2 AmE for REEL: a spool of thread
spoon¹ /spuːn/ n 1 (often in comb.) a tool for mixing, serving, and eating food, consisting of a small bowl-shaped part with a handle: a silver/plastic spoon | a soup spoon 2 [(of)] a spoonful: Two spoons of sugar, please. → see also DESSERT-SPOON, GREASY SPOON, SOUP SPOON, TABLESPOON, TEA-SPOON, WOODEN SPOON, born with a silver spoon in one's mouth (SILVER)
spoon² v 1 [T+obj+adv / prep] to pick up or move with a spoon:
Spoon the mixture into glasses. | to spoon up soup 2 [1] old-fashion to kiss and hold a person of the opposite sex: They were spooning on the front porch.
spoonerism /'spuːnərɪzəm/ n an expression in which the first sounds of two words have changed places, usually with a funny result (as in sew you to a sheet for show you to a seat)
spoon-feed v -fed /-fed/ [T] 1 to feed (especially a baby) with a spoon 2 usually derog to present (information or opinions) to someone in a very easy form that needs no thinking: It's wrong to spoon-feed your students. | [+obj+to] He spoon-fed political theory to his students. | [+obj+with] He spoon-fed his students with political theory.
spoonful /'spuːnful/ n. pl. spoonfuls or spoonful /'spuːnzful/ [(of)] (often in comb.) the amount that a spoon will hold: Two spoonfuls of sugar, please.
spoor /spo:r, spuər/ n a (single example from a) track of footmarks or waste droppings left by a wild animal
spo·rad·ic /spo'rædik/ adj happening irregularly; INTERMIT- TENT: There were reports of sporadic fighting in the streets. | sporadic outbursts of the disease/of violence —~ally /kli/ adv
spore /spɔːr/ n a very small seedlike usually single cell produced by some plants and simple animals and able to develop into a new plant or animal: a mushroom's spores carried on the wind
spor-ran /'spɔrənl'spɔː-, 'spaː-/ n a fur-covered bag worn, especially in Scottish national dress, in front of a KILT
sport¹ /spɔːtˈspɔːrt/ n 1 [C;U] an outdoor or indoor game, competition, or activity needing physical effort and skill and usually carried on according to rules: Football is my favourite sport. | What other sports do you like? | I've never really been keen on sport. | Parachuting is an exciting/strenuous/dangerous sport. | winter sports → see RECREATION (USAGE) 2 [C] infml a person with a generous nature, especially one who accepts defeat or trouble in a cheerful uncomplaining way: Be a sport and let me borrow your bike. | She's a real sport/a good sport 3 AustrE infml (used as a friendly form of address, especially when speaking to a man): Good on you, sport! 4 AmE infml (used as a friendly form of address, especially when speaking to a boy): 'What do you say, Sport? Want to go to the game?' 5 [C] tech a plant or animal that is different in some important way from its usual type: This insect's a sport; it has seven legs. 6 [U] fml joking fun: The remarks were only made in sport. 7 the sport of kings pomp horse racing → see also SPORTS, BLOOD SPORT
sport² v 1 [T] to wear or show publicly and sometimes proudly; SHOW off: She came in today sporting a new fur coat. 2 [1] usually lit to act or move playfully; FROLIC: Lambs were sporting in the field.
sporting /ˈspɔːtɪŋ/ spɔːr-/ adj 1 fair-minded and generous, especially in sports: It was very sporting of him to admit that his shot was out. → opposite UNSPORTING 2 offering the kind of fair chance to compete that is usual in a game: She gave me a sporting chance of winning by letting me start first. 3 [A no comp.] a) of, for, or taking part in sports: sporting goods | All sporting nations wish to take part in the Olympic Games. b) of or fond of country sports like hunting or horse racing: a painter of sporting scenes —~ly adv
Sporting 'Life, The trademark a British daily newspaper which dealt mainly with horse racing. It stopped being published (PUBLISH) in 1998.
spor-tive /'spor-tiv/ 'spor-/ adj especially lit playful ︷ly adv ︷ness n [U]
sports¹ /spo:ts‖spo:rts/ n [P] BrE a meeting at which people compete in running, jumping, throwing etc (ATHLETICS): The school sports are next week.
sports² adj [A no comp.] 1 of, for, or connected with sport: the sports page of the newspaper | a sports commentator 2 || also sport AmE — (especially of clothes) informal in style: Do I have to wear a suit to the dinner, or will a sports jacket be good enough?
'sports car also 'sport car AmE — n a low fast car, usually having a roof which can be folded back or removed → compare ESTATE CAR, HATCHBACK, SALOON
sports-cast /'spo:tska:stll'spo:rtskæst/ n AmE a television programme of a sports game
sports, centre n BrE a building where many different types of indoor sports can be played, e.g. football, swimming, and keep-fit activities
'sports day n (especially in the UK) a day when the pupils at a school have sports competitions: It's our sports day next Friday. → see Feature on page A13
'sport shirt n a shirt for men which can be worn outside the trousers
Sports 'Illustrated trademark a weekly US magazine read mostly by men, with articles about different sports, teams, professional players etc
'sports jacket also 'sport coat, 'sports coat AmE — n a