- Spare is defined as something that is not in regular use or is extra.
- An example of spare is a guest bedroom.
- An example of spare is a tire in the car trunk.
- The definition of a spare is something extra in case it is needed.
An example of spare is making a second turkey for the dinner.
- Spare means to treat someone with mercy, avoid using something or save someone from something.
An example of spare is the governor calling off a prisoner's execution.
- to treat with mercy or leniency; refrain from killing, injuring, troubling, or distressing; save
- to save or free (a person) from something: to spare him further inconvenience
- to refrain from, omit, avoid using, or use frugally: to spare no effort
- to give up the use or possession of; part with or give up conveniently: able to spare a cup of sugar
Origin of spareMiddle English sparien ; from Old English sparian, akin to spær, thrifty, German sparen, to save: see space
- to practice close economy; be frugal or sparing
- to be merciful or restrained, as in punishing
- not in regular use or immediately needed; extra: a spare room, a spare tire
- not taken up by regular work or duties; free: spare time
- frugal; meager; scanty: to live on spare rations
- not fleshy; lean; thin
- economical in style; using simple language and a minimum of words; restrained
- a spare, or extra, part, thing, etc.
- ⌂ Bowling
- the act of knocking down all the pins with two consecutive rolls of the ball
- a score so made
something to spare
transitive verbspared, spar·ing, spares
- a. To refrain from harming, injuring, destroying, or killing: The general spared the city from a bombardment.b. To leave undamaged or unharmed: The oldest trees in the forest were spared from the fire.c. To refrain from denouncing or distressing; treat leniently or with consideration: The teacher spared the student's feelings by not criticizing her.d. To allow (someone) to avoid experiencing or doing (something): spared myself the trouble of going to the store.
- a. To hold back from; withhold or avoid: spared no expense for the celebration.b. To use or supply with restraint: Don't spare the mustard.
- To give or grant out of one's resources; afford: Can you spare ten minutes?
- a. Kept in reserve: spare parts.b. Being in excess of what is needed; extra: spare cash.c. Free for other use; unoccupied: spare time.
- a. Not lavish, abundant, or excessive; meager: a spare breakfast.b. Lean and trim: a runner with a spare figure.c. Not elaborate or ornate; simple: a writer's spare style.
- A replacement, especially a tire, reserved for future need.
- Sports a. The act of knocking down all ten pins with two successive rolls of a bowling ball.b. The score so made.
Origin of spareMiddle English sparen, from Old English sparian.
(comparative sparer, superlative sparest)
- scanty; not abundant or plentiful.
- a spare diet
- sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.
- Being over and above what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous.
- I have no spare time.
- Held in reserve, to be used in an emergency.
- a spare anchor; a spare bed or room
- lean; wanting flesh; meager; thin; gaunt.
- The act of sparing; moderation; restraint.
- Parsimony; frugal use.
- An opening in a petticoat or gown; a placket.
- That which has not been used or expended.
- A spare part, especially a spare tire.
- (bowling) 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.
- (bowling) The act of knocking down all remaining pins in second ball of a frame; this entitles the pins knocked down on the next ball to be added to the score for that frame.
From Middle English spare, spar, from Old English spÃ¦r (“sparing, scant"), from Proto-Germanic *sparaz (compare Dutch spaarzaam, German sparsam, German spÃ¤rlich, Swedish sparsam, Icelandic sparr (“sparing")), from Proto-Indo-European *sper- (cf. Latin prosper "˜lucky', Old Church Slavonic sporÅ "˜plentiful', Albanian shperr "˜to earn money', Persian Ø³Ù¾Ø§Ø± (sepÄr) "˜entrust; deposit', Ancient Greek sparnÃ³s "˜rare', Sanskrit sphirÃ¡ "˜thick').
(third-person singular simple present spares, present participle sparing, simple past and past participle spared)
- To show mercy.
- To keep.
- (to give up): To deprive oneself of, as by being frugal; to do without; to dispense with; to give up; to part with.
From Middle English sparen, sparien, from Old English sparian (“to spare, show mercy to, refrain from injuring or destroying"), from Proto-Germanic *sparÅnÄ…, *sparjanÄ… (“to save, keep, spare"), from Proto-Indo-European *sper- (“to be productive, earn"). Cognate with Scots spar, spare, spair (“to spare"), West Frisian sparje (“to save, spare"), Dutch sparen (“to save, spare"), German sparen (“to save, conserve, economise"), Swedish spara (“to save, save up"), Icelandic spara (“to save, conserve").