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spare

 - 3 dictionary results

spare

  [spair] ,verb, spared, spar⋅ing, adjective, spar⋅er, spar⋅est, noun
Use spare in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy: to spare one's enemy.
2. to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for: His harsh criticism spared no one.
3. to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it: to spare him the bother; to spare her needless embarrassment.
4. to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech: Spare us the gory details.
5. to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse: to spare the rod.
6. to set aside for a particular purpose: to spare land for a garden.
7. to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience or loss: Can you spare a cup of sugar? Can you spare me a dollar till payday?
8. to dispense with or do without: We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.
9. to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting: A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!
10. to have remaining as excess or surplus: We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.
–verb (used without object)
11. to use economy; be frugal.
12. to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment; exercise lenience or mercy.
13. Obsolete. to refrain from action; forbear.
–adjective
14. kept in reserve, as for possible use: a spare part.
15. being in excess of present need; free for other use: spare time.
16. frugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet: a spare regime.
17. lean or thin, as a person.
18. scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.
19. sparing, economical, or temperate, as persons.
–noun
20. a spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.
21. Ceramics. an area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.
22. Bowling.
a. the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.
b. a score so made. Compare strike (def. 69).
Origin:
bef. 900; (v.) ME sparen, OE sparian; c. D, G sparen, ON spara; (n. and adj.) ME; cf. OE spær sparing, frugal (c. OHG spar, ON sparr

Related forms:
spare⋅a⋅ble, adjective
sparely, adverb
spareness, noun
sparer, noun

Synonyms:
6. reserve. 14, 15. extra. 17. See thin.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To spare
spare   (spâr)   
v.   spared, spar·ing, spares

v.   tr.

  1. To refrain from treating harshly; treat mercifully or leniently.

  2. To refrain from harming or destroying.

  3. To save or relieve from experiencing or doing (something): spared herself the trouble of going.

  4. To hold back from; withhold or avoid: spared no expense for the celebration.

  5. To use with restraint: Don't spare the mustard.

  6. To give or grant out of one's resources; afford: Can you spare ten minutes?

v.   intr.

  1. To be frugal.

  2. To refrain from inflicting harm; be merciful or lenient.

adj.   spar·er, spar·est

    1. Kept in reserve: a spare part; a spare pair of sneakers.

    2. Being in excess of what is needed; extra. See Synonyms at superfluous.

    3. Free for other use; unoccupied: spare time.

    4. Not lavish, abundant, or excessive: a spare diet.

    5. Lean and trim. See Synonyms at lean2.

    1. Not lavish, abundant, or excessive: a spare diet.

    2. Lean and trim. See Synonyms at lean2.

  3. Not profuse or copious.

n.  

  1. A replacement, especially a tire, reserved for future need.

  2. Sports

    1. The act of knocking down all ten pins with two successive rolls of a bowling ball.

    2. The score so made.


[Middle English sparen, from Old English sparian.]
spare'ly adv., spare'ness n., spar'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

spare

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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