spare
(spâr)
[Middle English sparen, from Old English sparian.]
verb: spared, spar·ing, spares.
transitive verb
- 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?
intransitive verb
- To be frugal.
- To refrain from inflicting harm; be merciful or lenient.
adjective: 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 profuse or copious.
noun
- 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.
idioms
- to spare
- In addition to what is needed: We paid our bills and had money to spare.
derivatives
- sparély
- adverb
- sparéness
- noun
- spaŕer
- noun
