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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

spare       (spâr)  Pronunciation Key  v.   spared, spar·ing, spares v.   tr. To refrain from treating harshly; treat mercifully or leniently. To refrain from harming or destroying. To save or relieve from experiencing or doing (something): spared herself the trouble of going. To hold back from; withhold or avoid: spared no expense for the celebration. To use with restraint: Don't spare the mustard. To give or grant out of one's resources; afford: Can you spare ten minutes? v.   intr. To be frugal. To refrain from inflicting harm; be merciful or lenient. adj.   spar·er, spar·est Kept in reserve: a spare part; a spare pair of sneakers. Being in excess of what is needed; extra. See Synonyms at superfluous. Free for other use; unoccupied: spare time. Not lavish, abundant, or excessive: a spare diet. Lean and trim. See Synonyms at lean2. Not lavish, abundant, or excessive: a spare diet. Lean and trim. See Synonyms at lean2. Not profuse or copious. n.   A replacement, especially a tire, reserved for future need. Sports The act of knocking down all ten pins with two successive rolls of a bowling ball. The score so made. [Middle English sparen, from Old English sparian.] spare'ly adv., spare'ness n., spar'er n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
spare  (v.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

spare
adjective
1.	thin and fit; "the spare figure of a marathon runner"; "a body kept trim by exercise"
2.	more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight"; "found some extra change lying on the dresser"; "yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant"; "skills made redundant by technological advance"; "sleeping in the spare room"; "supernumerary ornamentation"; "it was supererogatory of her to gloat"; "delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words"; "extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts"; "surplus cheese distributed to the needy" [syn: excess]
3.	not taken up by scheduled activities; "a free hour between classes"; "spare time on my hands"
4.	kept in reserve especially for emergency use; "a reserve supply of food"; "a spare tire"; "spare parts"
5.	lacking in amplitude or quantity; "a bare livelihood"; "a scanty harvest"; "a spare diet" [syn: bare]
6.	lacking embellishment or ornamentation; "a plain hair style"; "unembellished white walls"; "functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete" [syn: plain]
noun
1.	an extra component of a machine or other apparatus [syn: spare part]
2.	an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle [syn: fifth wheel]
3.	a score in tenpins; knocking down all ten after rolling two balls
verb
1.	refrain from harming
2.	save or relieve from an experience or action; "I'll spare you from having to apologize formally"
3.	give up what is not strictly needed; "he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey"
4.	use frugally or carefully

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

spare

In addition to the idioms beginning with spare, also see to spare.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Spare

Spare\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spared; p. pr. & vb. n. Sparing.] [AS. sparian, fr. sp[ae]r spare, sparing, saving; akin to D. & G. sparen, OHG. spar?n, Icel. & Sw. spara, Dan. spare See Spare, a.]

1. To use frugally or stintingly, as that which is scarce or valuable; to retain or keep unused; to save. "No cost would he spare." --Chaucer.

[Thou] thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare. --Milton.

He that hath knowledge, spareth his words. --Prov. xvii. 27.

2. To keep to one's self; to forbear to impart or give.

Be pleased your plitics to spare. --Dryden.

Spare my sight the pain Of seeing what a world of tears it costs you. --Dryden.

3. To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to.

Spare us, good Lord. --Book of Common Prayer.

Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages. --Milton.

Man alone can whom he conquers spare. --Waller.

4. To save or gain, as by frugality; to reserve, as from some occupation, use, or duty.

All the time he could spare from the necessary cares of his weighty charge, he ?estowed on . . . serving of God. --Knolles.

5. To deprive one's self of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.

Where angry Jove did never spare One breath of kind and temperate air. --Roscommon.

I could have better spared a better man. --Shak.

To spare one's self. (a) To act with reserve. [Obs.]

Her thought that a lady should her spare. --Chaucer. (b) To save one's self labor, punishment, or blame.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Spare

Spare\, v. i. 1. To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious.

I, who at some times spend, at others spare, Divided between carelessness and care. --Pope.

2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to use mercy or forbearance.

He will not spare in the day of vengeance. --Prov. vi. 34.

3. To desist; to stop; to refrain. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Spare

Spare\, a. [Compar. Sparer; superl. Sparest; -- not used in all the senses of the word.] [AS. sp[ae]r sparing. Cf. Spare, v. t. ]

1. Scanty; not abundant or plentiful; as, a spare diet.

2. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.

He was spare, but discreet of speech. --Carew.

3. Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous; as, I have no spare time.

If that no spare clothes he had to give. --Spenser.

4. Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency; as, a spare anchor; a spare bed or room.

5. Lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.

O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones. --Shak.

6. Slow. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] --Grose.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Spare

Spare\, n. 1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint. [Obs.]

Killing for sacrifice, without any spare. --Holland.

2. Parsimony; frugal use. [Obs.] --Bacon.

Poured out their plenty without spite or spare. --Spenser.

3. An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket. [Obs.]

4. That which has not been used or expended.

5. (Tenpins) The right of bowling again at a full set of pins, after having knocked all the pins down in less than three bowls. If all the pins are knocked down in one bowl it is a double spare; in two bowls, a single spare.