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sparing

 - 5 dictionary results

spar⋅ing

  [spair-ing]
Use sparing in a Sentence
–adjective
1. economical (often fol. by in or of).
2. lenient or merciful.
3. scanty; limited.
Origin:
1325–75; ME; see spare, -ing 2

Related forms:
spar⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
spar⋅ing⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. frugal, saving, penurious. 3. meager, sparse.

spare

  [spair] ,verb, spared, spar⋅ing, adjective, spar⋅er, spar⋅est, noun
–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 sparing
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.
spar·ing   (spâr'ĭng)   
adj.  

  1. Given to or marked by prudence and restraint in the use of material resources.

  2. Deficient or limited in quantity, fullness, or extent.

  3. Forbearing; lenient.

spar'ing·ly adv., spar'ing·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean exercising or reflecting care in the use of resources, such as money. Sparing stresses restraint, as in expenditure: a quiet librarian who was sparing of words.
Frugal implies self-denial and abstention from luxury: a frugal diet; a frugal monk.
Thrifty suggests industry, care, and diligence in conserving means: grew up during the Depression and learned to be thrifty.
Economical emphasizes prudence, skillful management, and the avoidance of waste: an economical shopper; an economical use of energy.
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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Word Origin & History

spare  (v.)
O.E. sparian "to refrain from harming, to allow to go free," from the source of O.E. spær "sparing, frugal," from P.Gmc. *sparaz (cf. O.Fris. sparia, O.N. spara, O.H.G. sparon "to spare"). Meaning "to dispense from one's own stock" is recorded from c.1225. The adj. meaning "additional, extra" is attested from c.1300. In ref. to time, from 1610; sense of "flimsy, thin" is recorded from c.1548. Spare part is attested from 1888. The noun meaning "extra thing or part" is from 1642. Bowling sense of "a knocking down of all pins in two bowls" is attested from 1849, Amer.Eng.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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