Spud (Verb)
Meaning 1
Initiate drilling operations, as for petroleum; "The well was spudded in April".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The company will spud its newest oil exploration well next quarter in an effort to expand its operations.
- Drilling officially began when they spudded the offshore well in the North Sea.
- After receiving the necessary permits, they were cleared to spud a new natural gas well near the town.
- The drill site is now prepared and we are ready to spud, marking the start of our largest project yet.
- As the rigs are now in place, the crew will spud the exploratory well to assess the potential of the untapped reserve.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Produce buds, branches, or germinate; "the potatoes sprouted".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The old growth on the tree was pruned to spud a new sapling.
- A large area was deforested to spud new eucalyptus trees for wood pulp.
- The seed began to spud after it was exposed to water and oxygen.
- Under the right conditions the seedling would soon spud into a healthy young plant.
- More intensive study is needed to fully understand just how the seeds spud in extreme environments.