spare

spare: I UK [speə(r)] / US [sper] adjective **

1) [only before noun] a spare object is one that you keep in addition to other similar objects so that it is available if you need it

a spare key/battery/pair of glasses

Bring a towel and some spare clothes.

2)

a) available

Every spare patch of land has been converted into a vegetable garden.

The hospital has no spare operating capacity.

b) available to be shared, or given to someone, because it is additional to what you need for yourself

the spare bedroom

3) literary thin

She was about thirty-seven, tall, and spare.

4) literary plain and simple without any unnecessary detail or decoration

a spare writing style

•

- be going spare

- go spare

- spare change

II UK [speə(r)] / US [sper] verb [transitive]
Word forms "spare":
present tense I/you/we/they spare he/she/it spares present participle sparing past tense spared past participle spared
*

1) if you can spare something, you can give or lend it to someone because you don't need it

Can you spare a couple of pounds?

We can't spare the staff for training sessions.

2) if you can spare time, you have it available

Can you spare a couple of hours on Tuesday?

We arrived at the airport with just 20 minutes to spare.
spare someone something:
It's kind of you to spare me a moment.

3) to prevent someone from experiencing an unpleasant, painful, or embarrassing situation or feeling
spare someone something:
Thank God she had been spared the ordeal of surgery.
spare someone the embarrassment/pain/trouble etc:
At least spare him the humiliation of having to ask for money.

4) formal to not harm, damage, or kill someone or something

Luckily the floods spared this historic church.

Civilians were not spared in the attack.
spare someone's life:
The commander was so impressed by their bravery that he spared their lives.

•

money/room/time etc to spare — more than enough money/room/time etc

We've got food to spare.

- spare someone the details

- spare someone's feelings

- spare no effort

- spare no expense

- spare a thought for someone

See:

blush II

III UK [speə(r)] / US [sper] noun [countable]
Word forms "spare":
singular spare plural spares
1) something that you have in addition to other similar things and can use if you need another one

"This torch is broken." "That's okay, I've got a spare."

2) a spare tyre

3) British a spare part 1)

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Synonyms:

Reserve, save, lay by, lay aside, set apart, set aside, Be frugal, be parsimonious, economize, pinch, Scanty, sparing, frugal, stinted / Dispense with, do without, part with, Forbear, refrain, be scrupulous, Parsimonious, chary, sparing / Withhold, omit, forbear, refrain from, Be lenient, be merciful, be tender, forgive, Lean, meagre, thin, poor, lank, gaunt, skinny, scraggy, raw-boned, emaciated / Withhold from, keep from, Superfluous, supernumerary / Give, grant, afford, allow, give up / Preserve (from anything dreaded), save / Save, withhold, gain, reserve

Look at other dictionaries:

SPARE — SPARE … Википедия
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 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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. [1913 Webster] 2. Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; chary.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spare — [sper] vt. spared, sparing [ME sparien < OE sparian, akin to spær, thrifty, Ger sparen, to save: see SPACE] 1. to treat with mercy or leniency; refrain from killing, injuring, troubling, or distressing; save 2. to save or free a person from… … English World dictionary
Spare — Spare, n. 1. The act of sparing; moderation; restraint. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Killing for sacrifice, without any spare. Holland. [1913 Webster] 2. Parsimony; frugal use. [Obs.] Bacon. [1913 Webster] Poured out their plenty without spite or spare … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spare — ► ADJECTIVE 1) additional to what is required for ordinary use. 2) not currently in use or occupied. 3) with no excess fat; thin. 4) elegantly simple. ► NOUN ▪ an item kept in case another item of the same type is lost, broken, or worn out. ►… … English terms dictionary
Spāre — (Spāre,Латвия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Dumbri, Ģibuļu pagasts, Talsu novads, Spāre, LV 3298 … Каталог отелей
spare — spare·able; spare; spare·less; spare·ly; spare·ness; spare·ribs; … English syllables
Spare — Spare, v. i. 1. To be frugal; not to be profuse; to live frugally; to be parsimonious. [1913 Webster] I, who at some times spend, at others spare, Divided between carelessness and care. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. To refrain from inflicting harm; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spare — [adj1] extra, reserve additional, backup, de trop, emergency, free, in excess, in reserve, in store, lagniappe, leftover, more than enough*, odd, option, over, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus, unoccupied, unused, unwanted;… … New thesaurus
Spare — may refer to:*Spare (bowling) *Austin Osman Spare … Wikipedia

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spare

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