| spring [spriŋ] ASTRONOMY The period extending from the vernal equinox to the summer solstice; comprises the transition period from winter to summer. ENGINEERING To enlarge the bottom of a drill hole by small charges of a high explosive in order to make room for the full charge; to chamber a drill hole. HYDROLOGY A general name for any discharge of deep-seated, hot or cold, pure or mineralized water. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING An elastic, stressed, stored-energy machine element that, when released, will recover its basic form or position. Also known as mechanical spring. |