spur spear pierce

spur [spə:]
a sharp, metal, wheel-shaped object which is fixed to the heel of boots worn by people riding horses and is used to encourage the horse to go faster
to push spurs into the side of a horse to make it go faster
to encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster
a high piece of land which sticks out from a mountain or a group of mountains
n. 鼓舞，刺激；马刺；山嘴，尖坡；山鼻子
vi. 骑马疾驰；给予刺激
vt.用靴刺踢； 激励，鞭策；给…装踢马刺

例句
The thought of the prize was the spur for the team.
夺取锦标的思想是该队的动力。
He spurred his players to fight harder.
他激励他的球员更加努力地战斗。
He spurred forward to his destination.
他驱马疾驰,直奔目的地。

麻省理工公开课 - 计算机科学及编程导论课程节选
We want you to take your own notes to help you, if you like, spur your own learning process.

如果你们愿意的话，我们希望你们能记笔记帮助自己，在学习的道路上鞭策自己。

spear [spiə]
a weapon consisting of a pole with a sharp, usually metal, point at one end, which is either thrown or held in the hand
a thin pointed stem or leaf
n. 矛，枪
vt. 用矛刺

例句
He has speared 5 fishes from the river.
他从河里已叉中五条鱼了。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选
Satan's spear is to the tallest pine what the tallest pine is to a little, bitty wand.

撒旦的长矛对于最高的松木而言就如同最高的松木对比一根小小的棍子一般大。

pierce [piəs]
to go into or through something, making a hole in it using a sharp point:
(of a light, sound, etc.) to suddenly be seen or heard, despite darkness, noise, etc:
~ (through) sth to force a way through a barrier
vt. 刺穿；洞察；响彻；深深地打动
vi. 进入；透入

例句
The pin pierced his skin.
针刺穿了他的皮肤。
One of these gunmen pierced the protective cordon around the President's house.
其中一个持枪人突破了总统住房周围的警戒线
A ray of sunlight pierced the clouds.
一缕阳光穿透了云层。
A sharp cry pierced the air.
一声尖叫刺破长空。

【词义辨析】

pierce, penetrate, prick, stab, thrust
这些动词均含“刺入，穿透”之意。
pierce: 多指人为地用刀刺、剑等尖锐东西刺穿或刺入某物。
penetrate: 较正式用词，可指用任何工具穿入或穿透，也可指光线、声音等透过物体。
prick: 一般指用针等刺穿。
stab: 主要指利器刺入、刺伤，如用匕首、短刀等。
thrust: 本义是使某物进入或把某物刺进或使之穿透某物，有时侧重穿透、刺入。

趣味单词

aroma [ə'rəumə] 饿肉末
a strong pleasant smell, usually from food or drink
n.(酒、菜肴、植物等的)香味，香气，芳香

例句
We sniffed the aroma of fresh apple pie.
我们闻到了新鲜苹果馅饼的香味。